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CHRISTMAS TIMES 






BY 


MARY D. BRINE 





AUTHOR OF “STORIES GRANDMA TOLD,” “A MOTHER’S SONG,” “PAPA’S LITTLE DAUGHTERS,” 
“FOUR LITTLE FRIENDS,” “JINGLES AND JOYS,” ETC., ETC. 







NEW YORK 


CASSELL PUBLISHING COMPANY 

104 & 106 FOURTH AVENUE 


\ 


A A 











Copyright, 

i8go, 

By O. M. DUNHAM. 


« < 
t < « 


< i c 

All Rights Reserved. 


■ 


*>*% 




PAGE. 

After a Bird, .... 108 

Almost Drowned, . . 85 

Amusing Baby, 99 

An Impromptu Entertainment, 114 

An “ Upset,” 

At Night, ....... 

Baby’s Birthday Present, . . 

Barricade, The, ...... 

“ Because I’m so Happy ! ” . 

Being a “ Lady,” 

“ Big Find,” A, 

Blowing Bubbles, 

Bold Soldier Boy, The, 

Bouquet for Mamma, A, . 

“ Bravo, Rover ! ” 

By, Baby, By, 

Caught in the Shower, .... 

Cherry Time, 

Cliff House, The, 

Come Along, Mooley, 

Convention, The, 

Country Store, The, 

Cousin Will’s Treat, . 

“ Cross Patch,” 

Cruel Tom, 

“ Cuckoo,” 

Dancing Girl, The, 

Desmond and the Moon, 



IO 


CONTENTS. 


Difficult Essay, A, . 
Dolly’s Punishment, 

“ Don’t Bite Me, Neddie,” 
“ Dood-Night, Dod,” . 
Farm-Yard, The, 

Feeding The Pigeons, . 
Fine Lady, A, . 

Fish in the Bottle, The, 
Fishing, . 

Four Playmates, . 

Four Young Crows, . 
Frightened Miss Mouse, 
Gallantry, 



Game of Ball, The, 
Gathering Wild Flowers, . 
Give Me a Penny, Gran’pa, . 
Giving Dicky a Treat, 

“ Go ’Way ! ” 

Good-By, Pet, . 


“ Good-By, Little Dovey ! ” . 
Good Time, A, 

Grandpa’s Barn, . 

“ Hans,” 

Harry’s Bag, . • . 

Having His Photograph Taken, 
He Hears a Mouse, 

Helping Bridget, 

“ Help Yourself,” 

“ Hello, Moolly ! ” . 

“ Hello, Towser ! ” 

Her Little Sister, 

“ Here We Go ! ” . 

Hide and Seek, 

Highway Robber, A, . 

House Building, 

Housekeeping, 

How The Clouds Sailed By, . 
How They Made Up, . 
Hunting for Cookies, 

“ Hunting the Slipper,” 

“ Hurry Up, Dobbin ! ” . 

I’m Going a-fishing, 

In the Hammock, 

In the Meadow, . 

In the Woods, 

Inquisitive Little Pig, The, . 
Invader, The, .... 
“ Isn’t it a Shame ? ” 

“ I Want to Play, Too,” . 

I Wish I Hadn’t Eaten Mine, 
Jack and Neddie, 

Jolly Sleighride, A, 

“ Jump up, High ! ” 

“ Just Wait Till I’m a Man! ” 
Keeping House, 

Kind Little Master, A, 

“ Knit Away, Grandma,” 

“ Lazy Sal,” 

Lazy Willie 

Leading the Horse to Water, 


PAGE. 

8 7 

30 

143 

64 

16 

45 

140 

75 

39 

157 

22 

49 

106 

1 16 

121 

31 

24 

1 13 

123 



to Draw, .... 

'* Let’s Cut Our Hair," 
j ]**. Li trie Blossom ’Mongst the Leaves, A, 

Li.ti.lc Bunnies, 

Lit ,Ie Comrades, 

Ai.it :ie Digger, The, 

Little intruder, The, 

Little Mates, The, 

Little Miss With a Big Wish, A, 

•' ; Ljttle: Plants, 


| Little Sambo, . 
Little Shoppers, . 


j l ittL: Snow Shoveler, The, 

Little Tramp, A, . 

""“"Looiciing for Santa Claus, 

Lbujdand Lucy, . 

Lucy’s} Birthday, 
akil.lg Scrap-Books, . 

\Ta iTirna's “ Blessings,” 

“ Meddlesome Matties,” 

Meeting of the Birds, The, 

Menage for Grandpa, A, 
iss Cross Patch, 
jj^S Ebony, 

loraijng Concert, The, 

Mooley, Come Along, 

My Lour Young Friends, 

"My Little Girl,” . 

My Little Kittikin, 

^ Fvjy [Medicine Bottle,” . 

J Naughty Elsie, 

“ lieu Will Take Care of Me,” 

Nice Fit, A, . 

Out to Pasture, 

Off loll - the Country, .... 

‘ Oh, iDe Lors ! Missy ! ” . 

• “Oh, Dear Me!” 

. Jh, My! Aren’t You High!” 

Mi That Mouse ! ” . 

.di Dobbin, 

Little Soldier, Two Little Soldiers, 



PA C B. 

94 

90 
141 

in 

46 

41 
21 

109 

58 
92 

141 

23 

76 

152 

1 18 
50 
99 

82 

59 
62 

137 

105 

48 

7i 

83 
53 

42 

153 

91 

131 

38 

69 

1 19 

46 
133 

74 

40 

78 

153 

15 

47 


'IS. 

11 

On the Fence, 

PAGE. 

105 

Open the Door, 

16 

Organ Man, The, . 

IOO 

Our Baby, 

. 147 

Pair of us, A, 

n 3 

Peanut Boy, The, 

. 25 

Pet Horse, The, . 

104 

Pet, The, . 

. 67 

Picnic, A, 

131 

“ Pick it up, Sir ! ” . 

• 37 

Playfellows, . 

39 



Please Read one More Story, . 
Polly and Dolly, . 

Pond in the Woods, The, 

Poor Doggie ! 

Poor Little Nannie, 

Prince and Lion, . 


56 

128 

84 

127 

155 

134 



CONTENTS. 


n 


PACE. 

Promoted, 136 

Pussie’s Dreamland, .... 32 

“ Rain Can’t Hurt us,” . . . .150 

Rain, The, 122 

Reason Why, The, 18 

Riding Pig-a-Back,, . . . . 158 

Robbie’s so Tired, 40 

Rub-A-Dub-Dub, 76 

Rude Winds, The, 20 

“ Run, Chick- A-Biddies, Run,” . . 74 

Sammy’s Story, 89 

“ See Miss Isabel ! " . . . 87 

Selfish Mamie, 73 

“ See ! The Donkeys Run ! ” . . 127 

Set Free, 26 

Setting a Snare, 129 

Sewing for Dolly, 9 7 

She Doesn’t Like the Fun, . . . 148 

“ She’s My Kitty ! ” .... 66 

“ Shilling Job,” A, .... 52 

“ Shoo ! Clear Out ! ” . . . .68 

Six Little Friends, .... 102 

Sleep of Innocence, The, . . .81 

Small “ Maid-of-all-Work,” A, . . 112 

Snowballing, 149 

Spelling Lesson, The, .... 29 

Stop Thief, 21 

Strange Children, . . . . 15 

Studious Sue, 91 

Such a “ Proper ” Little Miss, . . 115 

Summer and Winter, . . . .154 

Sunboasst for Poor Carlo, A, 88 


l»AGB. 


Supper Time, 

. 158 

Surprising Secret, A, 

139 

“ Taking it Easy,” .... 

. 96 

Teddy, 


Thanksgiving at Grandma’s House, 

• 33 

There he Goes, .... 

14 

Three Little Chicks, 

. 120 

Three Little Midgets, . 

17 

The Scolding Hen,- 

• 47 

Too Much Style for Teddy, . 

48 

Towser’s Little Dog, 

. 132 

Trained Pig, The, . 

IOI 

Tripping Down the Lane, 

. 142 

Turned Out to Pasture, 

46 

Tired Doggie, The, 

. 107 

Two Foolish Children, . 

132 

Up, As High as the Sky, 

• 57 

“ Upset,” 

119 

Wait There, Dolly, 

95 

Washing Day Troubles, 

. IOI 

Watching, 

• 157 

“We Four, No More,”. 

32 

“ We Three,” 

. 135 

What Fun ! 

63 

“ What’s in the Box ? ” . 

• 73 

When the Cows Come Home, 

144 

Where We Live, .... 

• -<5 

Who had the best of it ? 

. 138 

“ Whom You Looking down on? ” . 

• 145 

“Why Don't You Come Out?” . 

124 

Willie and “ Black Bess,” 

- 19 

“Will it Hurt?” . 

86 



RHYMES AND CHIMES 


BY MARY D. BRINE. 



“ Because I’m so happy I love to 

K sing* 

' And make the air with my music 

ring. 

Because I’m so happy the livelong day, 
My song must surely be sweet and gay.” I 


So said the bird on the blossoming tree, 

To May, who was sad as a child could be. 
For she wouldn't be glad, though glad and bright, 
The beautiful day with golden light. 


But the birdie’s song so sweet and < 
She couldn’t at last refuse to hear. 
And happy thoughts in her heart 
were stirred / 

As she sang a duet with • , 

the happy bird. f 


BECAUSE I’M SO HAPPY!” 


THERE HE GOES. 


There he goes ! see him Dick ! 

See how fast he flies ! 

A mile a minute? ’Twon’t be long 
Before he’ll touch the skies. 

Don’t you sometimes wonder how 
It feels to be up there ? 

Oh, Dick, I wish that we had wings 
To lift us in the air.” 


Oh, no,” cries Dick, “ I'd rather stay 
Right here on solid ground, 

Than have to flap a pair of wings 
To paddle us around. 

Let birdie soar to realms above, 
We'll sing our songs below, 

And leave to fancy and the like, 
The soaring part, you know. 


l S 



OLD DOBBIN. 

Kind old Dobbin, have a care! 

Baby Bess’s fluffy hair 
Is not meant for you to eat. 
Where’s your hay, so nice and sweet ? 
Or perhaps you mean to take, 


Only a kiss, for love’s kind sake. 
Well, 'tis plain the little maid 
Is not of your mouth afraid. 

So we’ll leave her, Dobbin dear, 
To your care without a fear. 


STRANGE CHILDREN. 

Poor old hen ! no wonder 
She cries with such alarm 
To see her flat-nosed babies 
In danger of such harm ! 

Such queer, strange creatures are 
they, 

Unlike all chicks before! 

“ They’ll drown ! ” her heart is 
thinking, 

“ Before the day is o’er.” 

Poor old hen, be easy, 

Nor fret your life away, 

For ducks will take to water, 
While hens on land must stay. 


i6 




OPEN THE DOOR. 

Open the door, and let me in ! 

Mamma, please open the door. 

I’m sorry I was a naughty girl, 

I won’t be any more. 

I won’t be naughty again, mamma. 

Just open the door and see! 

The frown’s all gone, and I’ll truly try 
A good little girl to be. 


THE FARM-YARD. 

Baby Bobby, aged but four, 

Says he “Yuns” a farm, and so 


He puts his sheep upon the 
floor, 

And builds the farm around, 
you know. 

Farmer Bobby, there is he, 
Satisfied with farm and lands. 
-Just as rich as rich can be, 

All the labor of his hands! 



i7 



THREE LITTLE 

MIDGETS. 

Three little midgets went up 
the hill, 

Oh dear ! what a jolly time 
they had ! 

There were — let me see — one 
baby, one girl, 

And one little, dear little lad. 

As neat and clean as new pins 
were they, 

And fresh as the morn of a 
new, glad day. 



GOING UP THE HILL. 


And they started off all merry and gay, 
Wee baby, sweet Bessie, bold Tad! 



Three little midgets came down 
the hill. 

Oh dear, oh dear ! how tired 
were they ! 

There were terrible rents in their 
dainty clothes ! 

Oh, what would the mother 
say ? 

But never mind ! what fun they 
had, 

Baby, and Bessie, and tired 
Tad; 

In spite of the rents they were 
all of them glad 

Because of the merry day. 


COMING DOWN THE HILL. 





THE REASON WHY. 


Maybe she thought that Santa Claus 
Didn’t know it, day by day. 

When she was a naughty girl 
In her home or at her play. 

Maybe Nellie thought that he 
Lived so far away, you know. 

He’d never dream that she could st rike 
And tease her little sisters so. 

But he must have found it out, 

For I heard a sorry tale 

Of a Christmas morn which macl« 
Little Nellie weep and wail 


O’er a stocking filled with stones, 
(Emblems of each naughty deed,) 
And a whip for whoso’er 

Its kind services might need. 

But when Christmas comes again 
Better presents she may find, 

For a little girl who tries 

Now , to be so good and kind. 




WILLIE AND “ BLACK BESS.” 

Black Bess was Willie’s horse, you see, 

(At least that’s how he used to put it,) 

And when he saw a chance to ride 
He saw no use of having to “ foot it.” 

But Bess “had such a slippery back” — 

So Will complained — “he couldn’t stay on. 

And mamma said, “ Bess was far too high 
For a wee little boy to ride upon.” 

But one fine day he climbed the fence, 

Poor little disobedient Willie ! 

And clambered from there to the horse’s back, 

(No doubt Black Bess thought it dreadfully silly.) 

And Willie, he felt like a giant man, 

As he sat upright, and old Bess moved on. 

But — after the fall — it was Willie who cried, 

“ It’s too high for a boy to ride upon.” 


20 



THE RUDE WINDS. 


Poor little Daisy! the winds are so rude, 

She’s afraid of the gale at last. 

And she feels like a feather, the wee little maid, 
Blown on by the breeze so fast. 

And she holds to her hat , and she cries, “ Oh, dear 
My head will be blown off next, I fear. 

A.nd I wish the winds would at least keep still 
When a small little girl is on top of a hill.” 


2 I 



THE LITTLE INTRUDER. 
The carriage stood outside the door 
Of baby’s favorite candy store. 

Little May Blossom, all dressed in white 
Sat in her coach, a dainty sight, 

And waited there till 
the nurse should 
come 1 1 H ( 

And wheel her young 
charge safely home. 

Paddy O’Flynn came 
strolling by, 

Leading h i s sister. 

Thoughthe, “ 111 try 
How Biddy’ll be look- 
ing all so fine 
In the kerrige there, a 
cuttin’ a shine.” 

So he lifted her in 
With a merry grin, 

Mischievous little 
• Paddy O’Flynn. 


And though the horrified nurse came out 
And sent them both to the right about, 

Yet Paddy boasts with a funny smile 
Of “the day when his sister rode in stoile.” 


STOP THIEF. 

Oh, cook ! see here ! 

You’d better run, 

For Fido’s having 
Jolly fun ! 

He’s two good chops of his own, but see, 
He’s stealing yours, with right good glee. 



22 



FOUR YOUNG CROWS. 

Four young crows together sit, 

Around them birdies gaily flit. 

But no one cares this happy day 
To pause or linger on the way 
And chat with these four lonely crows. 
The reason surely each one knows. 

1 

44 They are not honest birds, you see, 

Their characters are not good, so we 
Will not permit ourselves to mix 
With birds well known for wicked tricks.’- 
All this, and more, the birdies say 
As they fly by this summer day. 

44 Oh, dear ! ” I say, 44 how sad ’twould be 
If such a thing were said of me! 

’Tis very true, I'm not a crow, 

But I’ve a character, you know, 

And I must keep it pure and true, 

Or I shall be avoided, too.” 


23 








„ ^ i 


tllTTLE SHOPPERS. 


if U H I !! 


'vVa’I. take a dolly, if you 


please, 

And a nice box of candy, 
And just a pound of ginger 
nuts, 

They’ll come in nice and 
handy 

"Whjsn Ted and I are hungry, 


We will be by and by. 


* got a bright new cent to 


spend. 

And just as much have /. 


after all, these shoppers 


small, 

Who wanted goods so 


many, 

’eiit from that store with 
just one bun 
Apiece, for each new penny. 


HUNTING FOR COOKIES. 


Where has grandma hidden them ! 

Hunt about and see 

Where all those cookies, round and sweet, 
Can all so safely be. 

This place, that place, and every place ! 

Are they anywhere? ” 

Go search in grandma’s pocket, dear, 
And see what you’ll find there. 


24 



GIVING DICKEY A TREAT. 

Take a piece of cake, dear Dick, 
You’ve sung so well all day. 

I heard your merry song and trill 
While busy at my play. 

All so cheery is your song, 

You really help the day along. 

And I will always loving be 
To the sweet pet who sings for me. 
So here’s a piece of cake, dear Dick, 
You’ll like it if you try. 

And you shall have some apple, when 
I get one, by and by. 




25 


«< 



THE PEANUT BOY. 

The peanut boy stands boldly up 
Beside his peanut stand, 

And with a voice so clear and loud 
Proclaims on every hand — 

Here’s peanuts, fresh and roasting hot ! 
Five cents a quart!" yells he. 

And makes his “quart” fit snugly in 
A pint bag — you will see. 


BABY’S BIRTHDAY PRESENT. 



Only a silver mug, but worth 
Its weight in gold to her, 

Without it baby could not be 
Prevailed upon to stir. 

All day she tugged it round about. 

For use in every way, 

As hammer , ball ’ or whatsoe’er 

She needed for her play. 

She made a pillow of it, too, 
And when she went to bed 
Upon its shining silver side 
She laid her precious head. 
She found it very useful, but 
As can be plainly seen, 

She ne’er could drink from ft, be* 
cause 

That mug was never clean . 



KEEPING HOUSE. 


Keeping house with children two, 
Master Hal and Cousin Sue. 

Little seven-year-old “papa,” 

Little six-year-old “ mamma,” 
Happy as the day is long, 

Merry hearts are tuned .to song. 

“ Family cares ” delightful are, 

And not a sign of “ family jar.” 



SET FREE. 

Poor little squirrel ! let it go 
Back to the woods again. 

Why keep it prisoned when we know 
'Twill fill its heart with pain? 
'Twas cruel Tommy set the trap, 
And he may scold, but then, 

I think, my girlie, you and I 
Will do the same again, 

Whenever we may find a chance 
To set a prisoner free, 

And Tom may scold, but in the end 
Far happier he’ll be. 





IN 


THE 


MEADOW. 


In the meadow playing horse, such good fun together, 
Little children all “turned out to grow” in summer weather. 
Daisies to the left of them ; daisies to the right, 

Bright blue eyes like sunny skies, what a pretty sight. 
Sister Nell the horse must be, trotting slow or faster, 
Just according to the word from her baby master. 

And wee little. Gracie, see ! she’s so kind and sweet, 

See her gathering grasses for the “ pretty horse” to eat. 


HAVING HIS PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN. 


4 Now, Pug, sit up, and lift your ears, 
And look as wise, sir, as you can, 
And if your picture isn’t good, 

Get down, — and bite the photo’ man.’ 


1 i J 

j $o gentle Pug sat bolt upright, 


And looked his best, as you can see, 
Then Harry kept the living dog, 


And sent the photograph to me. 




28 



GRANDPA’S BARN. 


Grandpa’s barn on a summer’s day, 

Is the very best place in the world for 
play. 

’Tis there the swallows fly in and out, 

Thro’ shadow and sunshine whirling about. 
Tis there the pigeons are cooing a song, 
High up where the rafters are broad and 
strong. 


And there the hay in a goodly store 
Is piled when the harvest days are o’er. 
And oh ! how sadly we say good-by, 
When September’s sun is high in the 
sky. 

And we turn our backs on the barn at 
last, 

The fun of vacation and summer past. 



THE CONVENTION. 

The convention took place on a white rose stalk. 

Dear me ! how those members did argue and talk ! 

They discussed the worm question, the prospects ahead. 
For earning each day of the season their bread. 

They talked of the seeds they’d seen planted that day, 

In the farmer’s corn meadow just over the way. 

And they talked and they talked till convention was c’e: 
And the long-suffering rose stalk breathed freely once more. 







Speil it, baby, spell it loud. 

Listen, “ D-O-G.” 

And the word that follows next 
Is — listen — “ C-A-T.” 

“ D-O-G ” spells “ bow-wow wow,” 
“ C-A-T ” spells “ mew.” 

Oh, my little scholar sweet, 

How very wise are you. 




3 ° 



DOLLY’S PUNISHMENT. 

Go right in the closet, my dolly-giri. 

I’m sorry you’ve been so bad ; 

But your conduct is dreadful, and jnlakes 
my hair 

'Most gray, and my poor heart sad., 
Go and reflect how wicked you are, 
And not in the least like your i it tie 
mamma, 

I hope that in future you really w i try 
To be just as obedient a daughter as I. 


BEING A “LADY.” 

Sitting in grandpa’s great big chair, 

Being a “reg’lar lady,” 

And making a call with a stylish air, 

That is odd in “only a baby.” 

Dressed so fine in her new plumed hat, 

With her hair in curls round her cheeks so fat, 
Mantle and gloves, and parasol, too, 

The “pink o’ perfection,” I think, don’t you? 







For things taste better, don’t you know, 
When people share ’em, / think so. 


32 



“WE FOUR, NO MORE." 

We four, no more, 

Mother’s babies we, 

Safe at rest in our downy nest, 

Snug as snug can be." 

Mother’s gone to get a worm 
Hope she won’t forget 
To bring us two, and they’ll scarce do, 
We’re such a hungry set. 



PUSSY’S DREAMLAND. 


Partly pleasure, partly pain, 

A mixture, as you see, 

Of real good times and greedy gain, 
And downright misery, 


Pans of milk, so nice to taste, 
Good fat mice by dozens, 
Running from the dog in haste, 
Or visiting her cousins. 


Giving concerts on the fence, 

Or arguing with a neighbor, 
Avoiding bootjacks and the like, 
All such useless labor. 


All such things does pussy dream, 
Lying there in slumber, 
Partly pleasure, partly pain, 
Visions without number. 



33 



THANKSGIVING AT GRANDMA’S HOUSE. 


Grandma’s house is lovely 
On Thanksgiving Day, 
When she lets the children 
Romp about and play. 
And she never tells us, 

“ Children, stop that noise !” 
S’pose she just remembers 
We’re only girls and boys. 


But, oh, the dinner hour! 

Oh, the dinner table ! 

Don’t we stuff and cram, tho’, 
Fast as we are able ! 

One thing is very certain, 

Of all the meals we eat 
The whole year round no dinner 
Seems half so nice and sweet 


As that we get at grandma’s 
On glad Thanksgiving Day, 
When we tonic up our appetites 
With lots of romp and play. 


“HURRY UP, DOBBIN!” 

Hurry up, Dobbin, hurry up, fast ! 

If you keep on at this rate we’ll get home at last. 
Over the road we must hurry along 
Harry and I and our Dobbin so strong. 

For mother is waiting, and tea will be ready, 
Hurry, good Dobbin ! be swift, but be steady, 
Or else you’ll upset us, and down we will go 
Ker-chunk and ker-waddle, right into the snow. 






34 



THE BARRICADE. 

Oh, what fun on a winter’s night 
To pile the snowball high and white, 

While the moon looks down with a saucy sin L<; 
Winking at all we do the while. 


But it isn’t such fun, I’m free to say, 

When the master goes to the door next day, 
And finds what joke the boys have played 
When they builded their frozen barricade. 

'Tis then that he sets the boys to work, 

And takes good care that not one can “ shirk.” 

And I tell you what, it is fun once more, 

When we’ve cleared the last from the school-house doof c 




“GOOD-BY, LITTLE DOVEY!” 

Good-by, little dovey ! your wing is healed, 

And now you may fly away 
To your friends who miss you in meadow and field. 

But will you not come some day 
To eat the crumbs I will scatter for you, 

When the weather grows cold and drear? 

There’ll be ever a welcome, kind and true, 

Oh, dove, little darling, here. 


36 



“HELP YOURSELF.” 

“ Help yourself, do,” said the frog one day, 

As pussy came sauntering by that way. 

“ There’s plenty for both, and so you see, 

I invite you to stay and sup with me.” 

The cat looked up with a sneering laugh, 

"You’re generous, my frog, too kind by half. 

This pan of milk was placed here for me, 

So I'll invite you to sup, you see.” 

Just then the maid with her broom came out, 

And scared the two with a vigorous shout. 

“ My custard is spoiled ! ” cries she. “ Alas ! 

See what my carelessness brings to pass.” 

Thought froggie and puss, “ What' mischief clings 
To those who are generous with — other folks’ things ! ” 



37 



Pick it up, sir ! try and see 
How smart a doggie you can be. 
Pick it up. It is not hard, 

And you will then earn your reward, 


A nice big bone, and for dessert 
A ginger nut or two, 

For I am bound to try and make 
A clever dog of you. 



“JUMP UP, HIGH ! ” 

Higher, little Fido, higher yet! 

If you a treat of cake, sir, wish to get. 

Stretch your leggies out, sir ; don’t you see 
You’re still too short ? and now bark “ please ” to me. 

Good fellow ! I won’t tease you ; here’s your cake. 
And now, my Fido, give a paw to shake. 

We’re both two “ happy dogs,” papa would say, 
With nothing else to do but eat and play. 



38 



Naughty Elsie, have a care, 
Do not spoil that golden hair 
With those scissors. 

Don’t you see 
What a sorry thing 
’twould 


‘NAUGHTY ELSIE.” 

Fun is fun when it can do 
Naught of harm, my dear, to you 

Or to others, in you.’* " 


play. 

Try to think of that 
each day. 


“ HANS.” 


I’m a little Dutchman 
At your service here 
A stranger in a strange land, 
That is very clear. 

Perhaps you think me stupid 
So far from home to roam, 



I quite agree with you, sir, 

I’d better staid at home. 

But since I chance to be here. 

Don’t stare at me all day, : 
But help a little Dutchman 
To make an honest way. 


39 




. 




PLAYFELLOWS. 

Playfellows ? of course they are, 

Pug-nosed dog and baby Starr, 
just two midgets all may see, 

Rut both as good as good can be. 

Round about the garden roving. 

Gay, good-natured, fat and loving. 

Pug’s her darling, she is mine, 
And I love to see the shine 
Of her eyes so soft and blue, 
As she talks with doggie there, 
Sitting in the garden chair, 
Telling secrets fond and true. 
Playfellows ? of course they are, 
Pug-nosed dog and baby Starr. 


FISHING. 


Ned, while fishing, 

No doubt is wishing 
That he were off at play. 

Though but a beginner, 

He knows that for dinner 
Mamma wants fish to-day. 

So he’s going to help her the best he can, 
And try for good luck, the smart little man. 


40 


' OH, DEAR ME! 



Oh, dear me ! how hard it is 
To pull off baby’s shoe! 

He tugs and tugs ; oh, baby boy. 
Mamma too well knows yotu 

She knows the habit baby has. 
Whene’er he finds a way, 

Of kicking off those little shoes. 
And loving so to play 

About the room with soft bare feet. 

Oh, baby, don’t you know 
A pin might scratch the tender skin. 
And hurt our darling so ? 


So nurse has tied the tiny shoe 
With strings that will defy 
The restless fingers, never' mind 
How hard they tug and try. 


ROBBIE’S SO TIRED. 

Robbie’s so tired ! sit in the chair, 

Poor little darling, and rest awhile there. 

Mamma’s too busy to take him just now, 

And rock him, and kiss all the frown from his brow. 
Robbie a patient wee laddie must be, 

And just in a minute, I think, he will see 
That mamma is ready at last to sit down, 

And chase away merrily each little frown. 

Till Robbie, before he quite knows it, will go, 

On a trip to the country of lullaby-o. 






THE LITTLE DIGGER. 

Dig, dig, all the day, 
Caring for no other play. 

In the field or in the lane, 
Digging o’er and o’er again, 
Ne’er without his spade is he, 
>IL - Wheresoe’er our boy may be. 
And the mischief he has done 
Can’t be told beneath the sun ! 
Flower seeds dug up, ah me ! 
Garden paths spoiled hopelessly ! 
Vegetables rooted out 
Just as they’ve begun to sprout ! 
Dig, dig, all the day, 
wish he’d choose some other 
play. 






HELPING BRIDGET. 

Helping Bridget sweep-the room, 
Helpful little midget, 

Unless she’s busy here and there 
She’s always in a fidget. 

“ Dot no time to pay wis dolls,” 
Says the little maiden. 

Who ever heard of four-year-olds 
With cares so heavy-laden. 
Sweeps the dust, with earnest arms 
Just where Bridget’s cleaning, — 
Never mind ! her little heart 
Is happy in well-meaning. 


42 



My Four Young Friends. 




My four young friends, I love them all ! 
Flossie, twelve years old, and tall ; 

“ Busy Bee,” who loves to sweep, 

And her wee room so neatly keep; 

“ Fly-away Fan,” who rolls her hoop, 

And clears the way with a merry “whoop”; 

And Bobby, all so spick and span, 

Who styles himself “ Mamma’s young man.” 

Flossie’s eyes are darkly brown, 

Like the braids all trailing down. 

‘ Busy Bee ” has eyes of gray, 

Chestnut hair, which will not stay 



43 




Tied in braids, so restless she : 


Little working, busy bee! 


Fly-away Fan’' has golden hair, 
Wind-blown or brushed, she doesn’t care. 
Her blue eyes suit her saucy face, 


Where never a cloud can leave a trace. 


'Mamma's young man’ 


Calls red , and doesn’t like to see. 


But oh ! my four young friends ! whate’er 


Their looks, to me they are most dear. 


has 


“ FLY-AWAY FAN. 


hazel eyes. 


Beneath his cap there snugly lies 


A crop of auburn hair, which he 


“ mamma’s young man.’ 


44 



Little Miss Ebony, one bright day, 

Went out with Master Coal to row. 

(For like all youngsters, black or white, 

They dearly liked in a boat to go.) 

They paddled here, and they paddled there, 

They paddled about ’most everywhere. 

They joked on many a subject, too 
As happy little folk^ like to do. 

But the funniest joke of all, thought they, 

Was cut and dried on their homeward way. 

For they said as they gazed at the summer sky, 
“ Were the. 07 ily clouds that go sailing by ! ” 


A HIGHWAY ROBBER. 


“ Stand, and deliver ! ” Willie cries, 

A terrible look in his bold, black eyes. 

For Willie, you know, is a “ robber 
man,” 

Waylaying all travelers as fast as he 
can. 

“ Stand, and deliver ! ” he says to Joe, 

Who’s the “very rich traveler,” anx- 
ious to gc. 

But the “ traveler ” rides as fast as 
he can, 

And escapes from the dreadful rob- 
ber man. 









45 


WHERE WE LIVE. 


Who so merry as we, who live, 
So near the beautiful sky? 
Who so happy as we, who love 
So near the blue to fly ? 


No cat to injure our little ones here ! 
No danger from man or beast we fear ! 
Our Master holds us far too dear ! 

And has placed our home so high, 



That merrily, cheerily all the day And the reason we’re merry, don't you see. 
We sing our songs of love, • Is just because we like to agree f 

And skim the air ’midst fields below And how can we help but happy be 
And azure skies above. Where peace broods, like a dove ? 


FEEDING THE PIGEONS. 

Breakfast time for the pigeons, 

As any one might see. 

I thought I’d tell you, because, perhaps 
You’d think they were having tea. 

But Willie was up this morning 
Just with the peep of day, 

And he always attends to his little pets, 
Before he thinks of his play. 

And here they are at their breakfast, 

Six little pigeons, you see, 

And by and by when the sun goes down, 
Why, then they’ll be having their tea. 






Yes, turned out like little colts. 

To frolic in the sun, and play 
With sunbeams and with breezes, too, 
Through the sweet hours of the day. 


Like little colts they love to frisk, 

And in the grassy meadow race, 

With none to check their own wild racs. 
Or fetter them with bond or trace. 


Little darlings ! how they shout 
For very glee ! Each happy voice 
Rings its own melody so sweet, 

And makes some mother-heart rejoice. 



LITTLE COMRARDS 

A little plump baby ; 

A pussy-cat white ; 

A ripple of laughter; 

A purr of delight ; 

A good game of ball 
Between baby and kitty, 
If they couldn’t be happy 
’Twould be a sad pity. 





47 

ONE LITTLE SOLDIER, TWO LITTLE SOLDIERS. 


One little soldier standing up, 

One little soldier tumbled down, 

Two little soldiers ready for war. 

When papa brought them home from town. 


One little brother tired and cross, 
One little brother kind and good, 
Trying to make the other glad, 

As a kind little elder brother should. 


One little brother sitting up, 

One little brother on the floor, 

Two little brothers ready for play, 

With the two tin soldiers, o’er and o’er. 


That is the way our Johnny does 

When mother is sick ; and that is why 
Little cross Sammie forgets to frown 
Whenever kind little John is nigh. 



Ml i 


THE SCOLDING HEN. 




']! !lj 


51 he scolds her chickens from morn till night, 
And keeps them all in a constant fright. 
She pecks them here, and she pecks them 
there, 

And flaps her wings at them everywhere. 
She’s a cross old hen ! as cross as two sticks, 
And no fit mother for biddies six. 

There’s never a rest for their poor little legs, 
Alas ! they were better off when they 
were — e gg s - 






48 


TOO MUCH STYLE FOR TEDDY. 



A boy who covets so much style 

As hat, and cane, and boots, and all, — 


A boy of only five short years — 

Why — serves him right to have a fall. 


But pick him up, poor little fellow, 

He’s bumped his nose all red and yellow. 
And “ style,” alas ! has come to this, 

A plaintive cry for mamma’s kiss. 


MISS CROSS 

Nothing but frowns on the little face, 

Oh, what a cross patch is she ! 

It is better, I’m sure, that she stay all alone 
In the corner, so drearily. 

For who such a playmate would want? not I, 
Nor any one else I am sure. 

A “cross patch girl,” with her sulks and scowls, 
No coaxing from me would cure. 

Just let her alone, and pay never a heed 
To the tones and the words unkind, 

And before very long, you may mark my words, 
Miss little cross patch will find 

It is pleasanter far to be good and glad, 

And kind as companions should be, 

And sweeter to hear her friends merrily say 
“ What a dear little stm-beam is she.” 



PATCH. 


49 


“HELLO, TOWSER U 


Hello, Towser ! nice old dog ! 

Want a boy to play with you ? 
I’m the chap, sir, and ’twas time 
For my nap to end, yoti knew. 


Don’t know where mamma can be, 
S’pose she’s busy, but I know 
I shall scramble out of bed, 

And we’ll to the garden go. 



Great big boy like me to lie 
Sound asleep right in the day ! 
Why, I’m most a man, I guess, 

Five years old, heard mamma say. 


Guess I’ll make a bran new rule, 
No more naps for me by day. 
So, old Towser, come along, 

Let us go and have a play. 


FRIGHTENED MISS MOUSE. 



No wonder! for didn’t she nibble a match? 

And didn’t it flash in a minute ? 

No wonder Miss Mousie jumped back in dismay. 
And thought that “ the mischief was in it.” 

But there’s where she made a mistake, don’t you see? 

For the match would have given no trouble 
If ’twere not for the mischief in little Miss Mouse , 
And the match made the matter but double. 




“KNIT AWAY, GRANDMA. 


Knit away, grandma, Brightly your needles 

Hard and fast, Flash as they go, 

Till baby’s stocking And your hands are working 

Is finished at last. For love I know. 

And baby’s stocking will soon be done, 

And ready with baby’s feet to run, 



Louie and Lucy are two little girls, 
They have blue eyes and brown eyes, 
And soft golden curls. 


Louie can read, 

And Lucy can listen, 

And oh, how she smiles. 

And how her eyes glisten, 

When Louie is reading the “ Merry-Go- 
Round,” 

Where nonsense for children is sure to 
be found. 


LOUIE AND LUCY. 


LAZY SAL. 1 



But happiest when in sunny weather, 
She and “ the other pig ” together 
Are playing tricks. No wonder, then. 
The farmer, jolliest of men, 

Is apt to say, when tired out 
With seeing her sprawling round about, 
u Beats all what ails that lazy gal ! 

Why, piggy’s twice as smart as Sal ! ” 


A lazy, lazy, lazy girl ! 

Her hair forever out of curl, 

Her feet unshod, her hands unclean, 
Her dress in tatters always seen. 
Lounging here and dawdling there, 
Lying out ’most anywhere 
About the barn-yard. Not a thought 
Of studying lessons as she ought. 


52 



“A SHILLING JOB.” 


Bravo, Ben, so hard at work ! 

How is it you are willing 
To shovel snow? What’s that you say? 
Papa’ll pay you a shilling? 

Well, then, what next? what will you buy 
With such a mint of money ! 

Toys, cakes and candies? No f well there, 
I will confess, that’s funny ! 

What shall it go for? oh, I see, 

There’ll be a circus Monday ! 

But Ben’s bright shilling — only think, 
Went — into the plate on Sunday, 

And lay beside papa’s big coin 
As proudly and as willing 
To aid in doing good, as though 
’Twere sovereign — not shilling:. 


COME ALONG, MOOLEY. 

Come along, Mooley cow, it’s getting so late, 

And we’ve got to get down to the pasture gate, 

And you’ve got such a habit, old cow, you 
know, 

Of liking to stop on the way as you go, 

Just to see if you can’t find one more cud to 
chew, 

And there’s only one way to get even with you. 

I shall tempt you along with this dainty, you 
see, 

And you’ll manage, old “ slow coach,” to keep 
pace with me. 

And so we’ll get home with the set of the sun, 

And I’ll bid glad good-by to my share of 
this fun. 










S3 


“HERE WE GO!” 

Here we go with a trot, trot, trot, 
Uncle Johnny and Joe, 

And every one stands 
A-clapping hands, 

And watching as we go. 

Oh, isn’t it fun on Charlie’s back 
To merrily ride away ? 

With uncle’s arms 
To lull alarms, 

How safe is Joe to-day. 

Get up, old horsey ! ” shout it out 
As loud as ever you can. 

Oh, Joe will ride 
Both far and wide 

When he is grown a man. 




Sambo is a rubber doll, 

Black as black can be, 

Lily is a midget wee, 

White and fat is she. 

I 

Here and there she trots around 
Lugging Sambo, too. 

Without her little sable friend 
What would our Lily do. 










54 


Caught 


Si 


IN THE OHOWER. 



Caught in the shower, run, girls, run ! 

Run for the barn near by. 

Who would have thought a shower could come ? 

Just a minute ago the sky 
Was soft and blue as a baby’s eyes, 

And the children hard at play 
In the broad green field where grandpa’s men 
Were making the new-mown hay. 

But the shower has come, oh, run, girls, run ! 
And wait in the barn for the hiding sun. 




I 







55 


THE ORGAN MAN. 

41 I wish I were an organ man 
To carry music all the day. 

You maybe sure where’er I went 
Some wondrous melody I’d 
play.” 

Ah, little boy, it does not need 
That you an organ man 
should be 

In order that your life may pass 
In constant strains of melody. 

You have the power, if so you 
choose, 

The sweetest music to impart, 

And if you did but know it, child, 

The melody is in your heart. 

Yours is the power, and yours 
alone, 

To turn the simple, magic key, 

And as you choose, the quick 
result 

Will harmony or discord be. 

The organ man, ’tis very true, 

May carry music on his back, 

But all the while, his hearty you know, 
The sweetest melody may lack 

A loving spirit, kind and true, 

The sweetest melody will give, 

And gladden others as yourself 

With joy and peace that long shall live. 




56 


PLEASE READ ONE MORE STORY. 



Just one story more, please read, 
Grandma dear ; and then I’ll try 
Not to tease for any more 
Till by and by. 

Are they always little sprites 
Flying round on dainty wings? 
Grandma, read me more about 

Those funny things. 


Read about the giant man, 

And the fairy boy, you know. 
Grandma, do the fairy boys 
Older grow ? 

Are you tired, grandma dear, 
Reading stories ? Oh, dear me 
Just one more, and then I’ll let 
You rest, you see. 


57 



UP, AS HIGH AS THE SKY. 


Up, up, as high as the sky, Baby ! baby ! mother’s wee boy, 

See my beautiful baby fly! Her heart brims over with love and joy. 

Mother’s arms are wings that bear What shall she do when he grows so fast 

Her bonnie, sweet bird so swift thro’ air. Out of her careful arms at last ? 

Dear, dear! what a sad, sure thing! 

Children can’t always to mother-arms cling ! 

But there’s just this comfort, for us, you know. 

Out of our hearts they never can grow. 


58 



" WITH A BIG WISH. 

She is such a little girlie, 

But the wish is oh, so great, 
To be out enjoying sleigh-rides 
If ’twere not that cruel fate 
Has made her just a prisoner 
In her little easy chair, 

With only mistress pussy 
Her solitude to share. 





She’s not a moody girlie, 

Though her little foot is lame. 

For come sunshine or come shadow, 
She’s cheerful just the same. 

So she watches through the window 
And laughs to see the fun, 

And the “ big wish ” dies at sunset, 
When the afternoon is done. 


CHERRY TIME. 

Cherry time, is it? and what do we see 
But little Miss Alice, who’s been to the tree 
And gathered as many as pockets will hold? 

And now, lest her auntie and grandma may scold, 
She has brought a peace offering of cherries, you know, 
A handful that into the pockets won’t go. 

A liberal proceeding, you think ? but dear me ! 

She will throw in the bargain — sweet kisses you see. 




MAMMA’S “BLESSINGS. 


Yes, they are blessings, by day and by night, 

And what would her life be without them ? 

But oh, how her heart overflows with its fears, 

And its “ motherly worries ” about them. 

Dear restless young darlings 
Who never can keep 
Themselves out of mischief 
Except — when asleep. 

Then mischief has fled, and the noise and the clatter; 
The questioning tongues have forgotten to chatter. 
The children are good and are safe for awhile, 

And mother’s anxiety dies in a smile. 

And she looks at her “ blessings,” 

And breathes her low prayers 
Of thanks for the burden 
Of motherly cares. 






6o 



5 Twas Cousin Will who treated us 
To nuts that night, you know, 

And I tell you what, you should have seen 
The way those nuts did go ! 


We cracked and cracked, and ate and ate, 
And “philopened” each other, 

And Rob he “caught” us every time, 
(He’s such a roguish brother!) 

Well, Cousin Will told stories, too, 

We couldn’t keep from laughing, 

(A funny fellow’s Cousin Will,) 

Rob says he’s always “ chaffing.” 


We ate so many nuts, he said, 

He feared it was not right. 

And we might have a visit from 
The nightmare through that night. 

But Rob said he could crack his jokes, 
And we' d crack nuts, you see, 

And not a nightmare came that night 
To Rob, or Lou, or me. 

/• - .... 



THE INVADER. 


61 


Baby was frightened, that was why 
We heard the children loudly cry, 

“ Go ’long, old ox ! get out of here ! 
And Ned, without a touch of fear, 
Went boldly forward, stick in hand, 
To “drive the invader from the land.” 


Poor harmless ox ! full willingly 
Into the shadowy brook stepped he ; 
And, truth to tell, was going there 
When he gave baby such a scare. 
Well might he toss his tail, and say, 
“ Don’t cry before you're hurt , I pray.” 



“ MEDDLESOME MATTIES.” 

Do you know what “ Meddlesome Matties ” are, 

My wee little girl or boy ? Dear me ! 

Ask mother if ever she's chanced, at home, 

A little Meddlesome Matty to see. 

Now what are these pussies about? Alas! 

They’re “ Meddlesome Matties,” although they know 
They are meddling with things that concern them not, 
And prying in “other folks’ matters,” and so 

They are like some children, not very far off, 

Who touch and handle with fingers too free 
Whatever they happen to come across. 

And such are — “Meddlesome Matties” — you see. 



63 



WHAT FUN! 


What fun ! but not for puss, oh, no ! 
The sport is all for Dick, the crow. 
No wonder puss can only rail 
At such a mournful, painful tale (tail). 


What did she do ? Ah, Dick can tell, 
And puss will learn her lesson well. 
Whene’er she trifles with black Dick 
She’ll find revenge both sure and quick. 



HE HEARS A MOUSE. 

Afraid of a mouse ? dear me ! 

Oh-ho, did you ever see 
Such a scared little phiz 
As that face of his ? 

Just from hearing a mouse ? dear me ! 


A wee little fat, brown mouse ! 
Who lives in the walls of the 
house. 

How he’d laugh could 
see 

How afraid one can be 
Of a wee little fat, brown 


1 



mouse. 


6 4 



“ DOOD NIGHT, DOD.” 


Little bit of girlie, with her golden hair 
Falling on her “nightie,” says her evening prayer. 

Lisping o’er it slowly, there at mother’s knee, 

Blue eyes almost closing, sleepy as can be. 

When the prayer is finished, “ Dood night, Dod,” says she, 
“ Dess you’s almos’ tired listening to me ! ” 

But mamma knows surely how the Shepherd cares 
When His lambs so precious lisp their little prayers. 


6 5 


“ ISN’T IT A SHAME?” 



Yes, kitty Snowball, so it is! 

A rousing, tousing shame, that you 
Should have to run from a tin can, 
And from a barking doggie, too. 


I know who did the mischief ; ah ! 

I wonder how he’d like such fun. 

I’ll tie a shot-gun to his leg, 

And from my wrath will make him run. 


Only a cruel, naughty boy 

Would tease a helpless pussy cat, 
And I’ll confess I see no sport 
In such a cruel game as that. 


JACK AND NEDDIE. 


Jackie has the short ears, 

Neddie has the long; 

Jackie is the small boy, 

Ned the donkey strong. 

Good companions are they, 

Loving one another, 

But sad to say, Jack sometimes acts 
As though Ned were his brother. 

Then to the other donkey 
Our stubborn little Jack 

Must take his sullen little face, 

And mounting Neddie’s back, 

Try if a right good canter 
Adown the sunny lane, 

Will chase away the temper, and 
Bring back our boy again. 



66 




“ SHE’S MY KITTY! 


Johnny clasps his treasure closely, 

“ She’s my kitty, kitty is ! ” 

And a most defiant challenge 
Sits upon his scowling phiz. 

No one wants to claim your treasure, 
Master Johnny, do not fear ; 

/ don’t want her, I’ve no fancy 
For a scratching cat, my dear. 

“ Ah, but pussie never scratches 
Little Johnny, for you see,” 

Says mamma, “ she knows he loves her. 
That is why they so agree. 



r\v 


6 7 




“ I’M GOING A-FISHING.” 

I’m going a-fishing,” says Tommy 
Lee. 

“Say, Jack, don’t you want to 
go, too ?” 

I thank you, kindly,” says Jack, 

“ but you see, 

I’ve got far too much work to do. 

1 have to pile wood for my mother, 
and then 

I have to go down to the store, 

And I have some business with 
other men, 

That’ll keep me an hour or 
more.” 


“ Well, then, good-by,” says Tom, “ I must go ; 
The fish will be waiting for me.” 



he had — nothing to show 
thumb. Ah, me ! 


THE PET. 

Freddie has a squirrel, 

As gray as gray can be, 

And Freddie thinks there never was 
A pet so “ cute ” as he. 

So very smart is squirrel, 

That he knows enough to take 
A tempting lump of sugar sweet, 

Or a piece of creamy cake. 

Now don’t you call that clever? 

Freddie thinks it is, but I 
Am sure that any boy can be 
As clever, if he try. 


But when he returned 
Save a hook in his 





68 


“BRAVO, ROVER!” 

Bravo, Rover, good old dog, 

To swim for Bobby’s cane! 

But very likely he will make 
You do the same again. 

He thinks it sport, and you , poor dog, 
On service all intent, 

May think the. oft-repeated game 
A thing of accident 

But, bravo, Rover ! you shall have 
A rousing bone to-night, 

And sleep the sleep of innocence, 

Till dawns the morning’s light. 



“SHOO! CLEAR OUT!” 



Shoo ! clear out ! ” and how they ran ! 
Scampering as only piggies can, 
Grunting, squealing, every one. 

The children thought it all good fun, 
But Bridget didn’t think so, no ! 

She stood at the door to see them go, 
And hoped she’d never see them more 
Because they “ muddied up her floor." 



" r 

“NED WILL TAKE CARE OF ME.” 


“ Do let me go, Mamma,” she plead, 

“ It’s such a shiny day, 

And Ned will take good care of me, 

I’m sure, along the way.” 

So mother tied the little hat 
Beneath the dimpled chin, 

And put the brand new apron on 
That had “ the potets in,” 

And let her dainty blossom go 

To meet her dear papa, i 

Just down the lane a little way, 

She knew ’twould not be far. 

And good old Neddie walked beside 
His little mistress sweet, 

And both enjoyed the walk S-hey took 



** IV 


?o 


THE COUNTRY STORE. 



The country store ! the country store ! 
Where you’ll find all you want, and more. 
Shoestrings, butter, brooms and milk, 
Beeswax, ’lasses, combs and silk, 

Calico, and lace, and cheese, 

Buttons, barrels, and to please 
The village crones, there’s snuff for all 
The village pipes, both big and small, 
Eggs and thimbles, sticks of candy, 
Chewing gum, for children handy, 

Soap and towels, starch and tacks, 
Writing paper, seals and wax, 


Peanuts, raisins, apple “sass," 

Dress goods for each village lass, 

“ New style hats ” for village beaux. 
Latest style in “women’s clothes,” 

Toys for children, and — well there, 

I can’t tell half, I do declare. 

But all you want, and ten times more* 
You’ll find at “ Deacon Jones’s store,” 
And lots of “gossip” thrown in free, 
“To make things social, don’t you see?’*' 
Long live the country store, I say, 

“ To keep things going,” day by day. 



7 1 



MISS EBONY. 


44 Good morning, Miss Ebony, 
How do you do ?” 

41 I’m well, tank you, missy, 

An’ how is you, too ? ” 

“ And where are you going, 
This fine, pleasant morn?” 


“ I’se gwine to de school, miss, 
As sure as you’re born.” 
“And what will they teach you 
That now you don’t know ? ’* 
“ Law ! missy, they’ll teach me 
A smart gal to grow.” 


HOUSEKEEPING. 



Housekeeping there in the cherry tree ! 

A very smart thing I think, don’t you, 

For a little bird who has laid three eggs 

And must pretty soon feed three mouths, 
to do ? 


She won’t have far to travel for fruit 

When it’s time for dessert at her meals each 
day, 

And where she could find a sweeter home 
I’m sure ’twould be hard for a bird to say. 


ff 

72 



SELFISH MAMIE. 


* 











SELFISH MAMIE. 


n 


Selfish Mamie, not to give 

Her sister one, when she has two ! 

I wouldn’t, and I couldn’t love 
A selfish girl like her, could you ? 

Hear Bessie ask in plaintive tone, 

“Please, Mamie, let me play with one?” 
While naughty Mamie shakes her head. 

I fear she’ll have but little fun 

With toys unshared so selfishly. 

But when she tires of lonely play, 
Perhaps she’ll secretly resolve 
To be more kind another day. 



“WHAT’S IN THE BOX? 


Harry asked me yesterday 

To show him something stowed away 

All snugly in my cedar case. 

I kissed the merry, curious face, 

And said to^him, “ Come, dear, and see 
The treasures all so dear to me.” 

So in the case he took a peep. 

“ Pooh, don’t see anything ’cept a heap 
Of dolly’s clothes,” with scorn he cried. 
“ But where’s your doll ? ” and I replied : 
“ Right here beside me, Harry dear.” 

He paused again. “ Mamma it’s queer, 
But / can’t see it anywhere.” 

Said I, “ Look in the mirror there, 

You’ll see the doll I played with so 
And loved but six short years ago. 

For you were then a baby fair, 

With soft blue eyes and golden hair. 

The dear ‘ live doll ’ whose dresses I 
Have kept so safe as years slipped 


How Harry laughed to think that he 
So small a doll could ever be. 

A Knickerbocker boy am I,” 

He cried, “So, cedar chest, good-by!” 


74 



Run, chick-a-biddies, fast, I say, 

There’s mother hen ! she calls to you 
To come and see what she has found. 

^ Some tender dish, both nice and new ; 


No doubt a beetle, or a worm, 

Make haste to dinner ; who can te'il 
What bill of fare will tempt you all 
When mother rings the dinner belli' 



LORS! MISSY!” 

Run, Sambo, run, run, run ! 

Isn’t the donkey having fun ? 

“ Missy ” laughs ! no wonder, too, 

At such a frightened booby-boo ! 

“ Oh, de lors!” so loud you cry, 

As over the ground you swiftly fly. 

But what on earth are you afraid of? 
The donkey stouter stuff is made of. 

If you desire to stop the chase, 

Just turn around and show — that face. 



. 



THE FISH IN THE BOTTLE. 


“ Oh, what have you got in your bottle ? 

And where are you going?” asked Dan. 
“ I’ve a dear little fish in my bottle, 

And I’m taking it home,” says Nan. 


;i And where did you catch the wee fellow, 
And may I not see it ?” asked he. 

I ca.ught him down by the river; 

You’re welcome to see it,” said she. 


Let’s go and catch another,” said Dannie. 
“I think ’twill be fun, don’t you?” 

All right ; come along, then,” said Nannie, 
“ The bottle, I know, will hold two.” 



So down to the river a-fishing — 

So down to the river went they, 
But never to Nannie or Dannie 
Came fish for the bottle that day. 


76 




RUB-A-DUB-DUB. 


Ernest likes to drum so much, you know, 
He even takes a basket for a drum, 

And up and down the garden likes to go 
With noiseless “rub-a-dub” and “ turn- 
tum-tum.” 


And grandma helps him fasten it safe on, 
And praises tenderly her “drummer 
man,” 

And says, “ There goes a boy who makes 
no noise ! 

Go, mothers, find one like him if you can ! ” 


THE LITTLE SNOW SHOVELER. 


Peter doesn’t care for cold, 

Not a whit cares he, 

As through the snow he plods his way 
Whistling merrily. 


For well he knows, smart Peter, 
With every fall of snow 
There’s money in his pockets, 

And — a “bank account” to grow. 


So he whistles, whistles gaily, 

As about the streets he goes, 
Clearing sidewalks with his shovel, 
Never heeding toes or nose. 


Though Jack Frost is biting sharply, 
And the winds blow keen and fast, 
For he knows the “bank” is swelling 
So long as the snow drifts last. 


7 ? 



I WISH I HADN’ 

/ 

I wish I hadn’t eaten mine 
In such an awful hurry! 

But then, I’m just that kind of dog, 
Most always in a flurry. 


EAJEN MINE. 

Can’t ever wait for manners, or 
Be easy in my way, 

Enjoying moderation, like 

My friend here, old dog Tray. 


Now he, of course, is happy, as 
He lingers o’er his dinner, 

And doesn’t give a thought to me, 
Poor foolish, greedy sinner ! 


I ate so fast, to tell the truth, 

I hardly got the taste 
Of all the good things, so I s’pose 
’Twas like a foolish waste 


To give them to me. Oh, dear me, 
My heart is like a log ; 

I wish, well yes, I’d really like 
To be — the other dog. 


78 



‘ OH, MY!. AREN’T YOU HIGH!” 


“ Oh, my ! 

Aren’t you hig^i ? 

Feel above us, don’t you, Jack 
But how will you feel 
When by and by 

You get a tumble on your back ? 


Jack stalks on with great delight, 

A very giant he in height. 

And brother Bob, and little Jim, 
With admiration follow him. 

And even Snip tries hard to laugh, 
And help along the merry “ chaff.” 


While Jackie’s long legs onward go, 
His rapid traveling to show. 


79 




THE INQUISITIVE LITTLE PIG. 


Inquisitive piggie is trying to see 
Who is passing along the way, 

But the farmer and Bobby both seem to agree 
That inside of the fence he should stay. 

He squeals, and he grunts, and makes such a clatter, 
No wonder old Dobbin thinks, “what is the matter?” 


SLEIGHRIDE. 

Over the snow, 

See them go, 

A sleigh full of the girls and boys ; 

It’s nothing but fun 
Till the ride is done, 

And they rest a little from all the noise. 

Over the snow ! 

How the winds blow! 

And Jack Frost snaps at each e!ar and nose; 
And the bells ring out 
And the children shout, 

And cheeks glow red as the red, red rose. 


A JOLLY 




8o 

■ f 




* 




A BOUQUET FOR MAMMA 






8i 


A BOUQUET FOR MAMMA. 

Gathering flowers for dear mamma, 

How glad she’ll surely be 
When Tottie carries her sweet bouquet 
For that mamma to see. 

There are daisies white, with golden hearts, . 

And buttercups yellow as gold, 

And — oh, the half of the flowers fair 
I’m sure could not be told. 

But dear mamma will welcome all, 

And wear her “big bouquet” 

With motherly pride on her motherly heart, 
Till the close of the happy day. 


THE SLEEP OF INNOCENCE. 


v 



There she lies, our sleeping puss, 

As quiet as a lamb, as though 
She hadn’t killed our singing bird, 

And — eaten grandma’s cream, oh, no! 


She sleeps as though her conscience knew 
No troubled thoughts for deeds so wrong ; 
And yet how sly is pussy’s tongue ! 

Those velvet paws, how swift and 
strong ! 

Oh, naughty, naughty, pussy cat ! 

How can you sleep in peace serene ? 

May visions of most dreadful dogs 
Disturb you for your deeds so 



mean. 




There were four little girls, so I’ve heard said, 

Who took it into each wise little head, 

To make some scrap-books, pretty and neat, 

And with charming pictures all complete. 

And when they were finished they went down town 
To the hospital babies. And good nurse Brown 
Declared there were no girls so welcome as they, 
To amuse the babies throughout the day. 

And our four little girlies were glad as could be, 
Because they helped others be happy, you see. 


A GOOD TIME. 

Five little cousins having a good time, 
Five little cousins gay, 

And three are girls and two are boys 
And they’re bound for a merry day.. 

fjf§ 

And the sun shines bright in the sky 
above, 

And shines in their young hearts, too,, 
And each agrees that the pleasantest: 
thing 

Is — “to do as the others would do," 



«3 







The M 


C( 


ORNING CONCERT. 


The morning concert ! sweet and clear, 

It comes to me on the early breeze, 

A serenade to the waking world 

From the feathered songsters in the trees. 

They sing their beautiful matin hymn, 

Like a burst of praise to the Lord of all. 

Dear little warblers ! well they may, 

For He stoops to mark e’en the sparrow’s fall. 

And if little birds in the morning, dears, 

Thus sweetly offer their songs of praise, 

Why should not my little girls and boys 

A prayer of thanks to the dear Lord raise ? 

For surely He loves the children best, 

And gives them all that is good and fair. 

Why should not sweet little voice send 
A hymn of praise on the morning air? 




8 4 



THE POND IN THE WOODS. 


• The pond in the woods how deep and clear 
The shadowed waters lie, 

Beneath the green of the old elm trees, 

And the blue of the far-off sky ! 

The lilies gleam midst the floating leaves, 
And merrily seem to say, 

41 If any would pluck us from our beds 
They’ll have to swim this way. 

But Dick and Harry are half afraid, 

No swimmers are they, and so 
They stay on shore, and revenge themselves 
By stoning -the frogs, you know. 

The frogs don’t care, they only laugh, 

'* For the boys no smarter are 
In throwing stones than swimming the pond, 
What stupid fellows ! ha ! ha ! 



ALMOST DROWNED. 


Jumped overboard, did she ? 

Half drowned in the water 1 
Well, Jimmy, my boy, 

It was lucky you caught her. 


Puss doesn’t like boating. 
I’m thinking, and so 
When next you go fishing, 
Don’t invite her to go. 


Now dry up your tears, 

There’s no great mischief done, 
For poor half-drowned pussie 
Will dry in the sun. 



“WILL IT HURT? 


Little Annie, perched up there 
In the dentist’s dreadful chair, 
Getting up a woeful scare, 

“Will it hurt ?” asks she. 
Dentist says, “ It won’t be bad.” 
Poor mamma looks very sad. 
Annie moans, “Well, I’ll be glad 
When you’re done with me.” 


Presently the tooth is out, 

Up jumps Annie, with a shout. 
Hops and dances all about, 

“No more pain!” laughs she* 
“ My brave girlie,” says mamma, 

“ Braver than most girlies are.” 
Annie says, “You’ll tell papa, 

And he’ll be proud of me.” 




8 7 


A DIFFICULT ESSAY. 



A difficult essay, it really must be, 

But a direful end is coming, 

For Jocko’s master is coming this way, 

And he’ll send Sir Monkey a-humming 
With the biggest kind of a box on the ear, 
As thanks for his services kind, 

And Jocko an editor’s duties to try, 

Will never again feel inclined. 



“SEE MISS ISABEL!” 

Do you see her? Ain’t she pretty? 

This is young Miss Isabel. 

When she’s dressed, in all this city 
There’s no friend I love so well. 
She's a present from my grandma, 
Made by grandma’s hands, you see, 
And I love her better, knowing 
How dear grandma thought of me 
While she worked and made my dolly, 
Just to give me a surprise; 

And my grandma’s an old lady, 

And wears glasses on her eyes. 

So I know it gave her trouble, 

Sewing for me every day, 

But I’ll always love my dolly, 

And be glad with her to play. 


88 


A SUNBONNET FOR POOR CARLO. 



Poor Carlo goes out in the sun each day, 
With his dear little mistress so gaily to play. 




ctx o 


, Cue.cixS' 




ue 


an,- 


ner 


on 


Oh, dear,” says our girlie, “ Pm 
really afraid 

That I must leave Carlo 
at home in the shade. 

’Cause he might have a 
headache, 

And that would be bad, 
But to play without Carlo 
Would make me feel 
sad. 

I’ll make him a bonnet, 
Mamma, don’t you see, 
His head will not ache 
If he wears one like me." 


And poor patient Carlo went meekly to play, 

In the field with our girlie that bright summer 
day. 

But the bonnet was missing, when ere long we 
found 

Our girlie and Carlo asleep on the ground. 


So she made him a bonnet 
Of cambric so white, 
And on Carlo’s big head 
She then fastened it 
tight. 




‘ 4 And as I came out of the store, mamma, That their father should drink , and be cruel 
I met poor little Benny O’Moore, mamma, and bad, 


And he looked, you know, 

Kind of tired, and so 
I gave him a bun (I had four, mamma), 
And his nice little sister was there, mamma, 
She has blue eyes and golden brown hair, 
mamma,' 

And her dress was all torn, 

And she looked so forlorn, 

I tell you it hardly seems fair, mamma, 


To such a sweet lassie and such a nice lad, 
While / who am often so naughty, I know, 
Should have nothing to worry me as the days ga 
But I’ll do what I can 
Now, and when I’m a man, 

To help others be glad as the days go by. 
And thinking of you 
Will help me be true, 

And perhaps I’ll improve , if I really try. 





LETS CUT OUR HAIR.” 


Says Sammy to Sammy, “Let’s cut our hair; 

May be mamma won’t very much care, 

If we do the thing nicely, as well as we can, 

And save her from paying the barber man.” 

He nodded his head and laughed to see 
How the other Sammy seemed to agree. 

Then they sat them down — the Sam in the glass, 
And the outside Sam, and alas ! alas ! 

They clipped at the locks of bonny brown hair 
In so shocking a way that mamma did care. 

And the Sammies presented a comical sight 
Till the barber at last set everything right. 




9 r 


MY LITTLE KITTIKIN. 


Oh, kittikin, my kittikin, 

You’re very dear to me, 

And — when you see a piece of cake — 
How loving you can be ! 

You mew, and purr, and fawn around, 
Till all the cake is gone, 

And then — you’ll likely turn your back, 
And treat my love with scorn. 



That’s just the way some people do, 
I’ve heard my father say, 

But faithful friendship is the same 
Though bright or dark the day. 

So I will prove a faithful friend, 
And love you all the same ! 
Whate'er her faults, my kittykin 
In me a friend can claim. 




“Studious Sue” — 

The children say — 

“ Does nothing but read 
The livelong day.” 


STUDIOUS SUE. 


Forever found 

With a story-book 
And wanting at all 
The pictures to look 


Till her friends grow tired 
And run away, 

And Sue reads on 

While the children play. 



LITTLE PLANTS. 


Harry’s seeds are coming up, 

How he likes to see them grow! 
Mother says that her small boy 
Is a “ little plant,” you know. 


How she loves, as days go by, 

To watch his growing habits, and 
The right and wrong of daily life 

To make his young heart understand. 


Harry’s plants are growing well, 

He hopes for bud and bloom ere long, 
'And mother hopes her one dear plant 
Will grow to manhood true and strong. 

And make the “perfect flower” at last, 
To dwell in gardens far above. 

Ah, little plants! how much they need 
Of watchful, tender care and love. 


93 



DESMOND AND THE MOON. 


Desmond loves to see the moon 
Shining in the far-off sky, 

Loves to watch the silvery beams 
On the shadowy landscape lie. 
Wider spreads the radiant glow. 
Brightening every thing below. 

Down upon the still pond streaming, 
In the darkened waters gleaming, 
Shining here and shimmering there, 


Dancing, glimmering everywhere. 
Desmond loves to watch them fall — 
Those pretty moonbeams — overall 
The fields and meadows, and his eyes 
Are bright as the moon-lighted skies. 
While upon the window seat 
He stands my little lad so sweet, 
With mamma’s arm around him tight* 
Isn’t it a pretty sight ? 




*94 



LEARNING TO DRAW. 

It is all very well, thinks Teddy, 

To make a boy draw, if he can, 

But when he can not it is only, he’s sure, 

A very unreasonable plan. 

A circle with angles about it, 

And all such nonsense, thinks Ted, 

Why, he’d rather by far go out in the snow, 
And draw his new little sled ! 

But the sunbeams may glitter and glisten, 
Right over that hill of hard snow ; 

Ted must draw on his paper till school Is done, 
And then to his pleasure may go. 





9S 


HIDE AND SEEK. 


Freddie ran away to hide 

From brothers Tom and Will, 

And in the great big chest he got 
To snuggle down so still. 

Full of blankets soft and warm, 
What a cosy nook ! 

No wonder Fred forgot to cry, 
“Now, Tom, I’m ready, look!” 

For in a trice he fell asleep, 

And left the game behind him, 

And vainly here and all about, 

His brothers tried to find him. 

But Little Fido, Freddie’s pet, 

Ran barking all around, 

Until he peeped within the chest, 
And lo ! our Fred was found ! 




WAIT THERE, DOLLY. 

Wait there, Dolly, Dolly dear! 

You’ll be quite safe, you need not fear. 
I’ll roll my hoop a little while, 

And you can sit right there and smile. 
To see me play, and by and by 
We’ll go together, you and I, 

To see my little city cousins, 

Who count their dollies by the dozens. 
And you’ll enjoy yourself, I know, 
Sitting with them all in a ,row. 


9 6 


“TAKING IT EASY. 



She thinks them very silly things 
In all this hot, hot weather, 

To work and strive so busily. 
And buzz so much together. 


Far pleasanter it is, she thinks. 
To take things easily, 

And so while she lies idly there 
The precious minutes flee. 


Nellie thinks it nice to lie 
Beneath a shady tree, 

And watch the wondrous industry 
Of each small, busy bee. 


And mamma’s errand is undone, 
Though half the day is flown. 

Oh, Nellie! shame! among the bees 
Thou art the only drone. 





SEWING FOR DOLLY. 

Such a busy little mother ! 

Such a pretty little “ child ” ! 

Did you ever see a dolly 

With a f^ce more sweet and mild? 

Such a comfort to her mother, 

Who is busy all the day, 

And who never finds a moment 

With her little girl to play. / 

There are dresses to be altered, 

There are aprons to be made, 

“ For my child in wardrobe matters 
Must not be thrown in the shade.” 

Says the busy little mother, 

As she clips and works away, 

And a brand new dress for dolly 
Will be made this very day. 






“ HELLO, MOOLLY!” 

“ Hello, Moolly, here I am ! 

Want an apple nice and sweet?” 
Moolly moos, and that means “ Yes, 
Glad of all things nice to eat.” 


Oh, the day is fair and light, 

Skies are made of sunshine bright. 
“But,” thinks moolly cow, “to me, 
Nothing half so sweet can be 
As the dear child who comes this way 
With apples nice for me to-day.” 


AT NIGHT. 



At night the angels keep their watch 
O’er little children as they lie 

In slumber sweet, to dreamland gone. 
Soothed by their mother’s lullaby. 

Oh, happy babies, dearly loved 

By Him who was Himself a child. 
Try all you can like Him to be, 
Obedient, gentle, sweet and mild. 





LUCY’S BIRTHDAY. 

Th is is my birthday, did you 
know it? 

See what I had from my 
mamma. 

I brought it out with me, to 
show it. 

And wasn’t it kind in dear 
\ papa 

To buy a dog for me, named 
Fido? 

A lovely doggie dressed in 
white. 

Papa says we’ll cut many a 
dido, 

And have good fun from 
morn till night. 

Oh, Sam, take care ! don’t 
hurt my dolly, 

She’s very little, just like me. 

Mamma says I should call her 
“ Polly,” 

And play she’s “ sister,” 
don’t you see ? 




AMUSING BABY. 


Sing, sing, what shall I sing, 

The cat ran away with the pudding bag string" ! 
That's only a rhyme 
Of Mother Goose time, 

Another of later invention I’ll sing. 

Sing, sing, what shall it be ? 

The cat ran away with her kitten from me. 

Baby looked up, and baby looked down. 

Baby went searching all over the town. 

But baby looked under the rocking-chair, 

And she found the cat and her kitten there. 





IOO 



THE DANCING GIRL. 

The Organ Man hadn’t a monkey, oh no, 

But he had a dear little girl, 

And whenever he turned the crank around, 
She also began to whirl. 

Now, one foot out, the other foot in, 

And vice versa — so, 

Oh, isn’t it fun to see her dance, 

Be the music quick or slow ! 

But the Organ Man’s girl, you may be sure, 
Grows tired once in awhile. 

And the little feet ache from heel to toe, 

And the sweet face loses its smile. 

But speak to her now one kindly word, 

And throw her a penny or two, 

And with lightened heart 'and a bow for thanks, 
She’ll merrily dance for you. 



IOI 


THE TRAINED PIG. 

Piggie on her hind legs sat, 

Piggie Porker, nice and fat. 

Tom, the boy, had trained her so 
That she had learned full well to 
know 

Just what he wanted her to do 
When a nice apple came to view. 

So, grunting loud, she tried to 
speak, 

But all she said was but a squeak, 

As on her hind legs long she sat, 

Poor piggie porker, nice and fat. 

WASHING DAY TROUBLES. 

I know a little girl who tried, 

To wash her dolly’s clothes, one day, 

In Bridget’s great, big tub, and cried 
Because mamma sent her away 

To find her own small dolly-tub, 

More fit for little girls to use. 

But naughty Sally shook her head 
And all suggestions did refuse. 

And when she found herself alone, 

She went to Bridget's tub again, 

But, as is sure to be the case, 

Her disobedience brought her pain. 

For, what do you think? she tumbled in. 
And gave herself an awful fright, 

And no one pitied her; in fact, 

They all laughed at her in her plight. 




102 


SIX LITTLE FRIENDS. 

Here are some more little friends of mine, 
Let me introduce them to you. 

The first is Madge, she’s a rogue of a girl, 
The next is little Miss Lu. 

The third is Bennie, the little 
“ Thumb-boy,” 

For he beckons so much, you 
see ; 

It is always a jerk of that little 
fat thumb, 

And a call, “ Come over to 




The fourth is Robbie, my plaintive young lad, 
The boy who has always a trace 
Of tears that are ready to shine in his eyes, 
A^d roll down his sad little face. 

The fifth is Patty, the “bare-footed girl,” 

Who, if she were left to choose, 

Would always trot round in her little bare feet, 


And wear on her hands, her shoes. 


io 3 



And now comes Teddy, my 
wee, sweet boy, 

Who wearily, drearily begs 
That some one will “ till allde 
steeter buds,” 

That bite those chubby stout 
legs. 





But no one can blame the mosquitos, I’m sure, 
For trying their best to eat 
A wee little, dear little morsel like Ted, 

From his head to his feet so sweet. 




And now you know all of my 
precious six, 

And what do you think of 
them, pray ? 

Perhaps I will find some more 
dear little friends, 

And introduce them some 
day. 



PATTY. 


TEDDY. 


io4 



THE PET HORSE. 


The good old horse, how well he knows 
What Jackie has so nice, 

He takes it from the little hand 
And eats it in a trice. 

And Jackie thinks it “jolly fun” 

To feed his gentle pet; 

But, little boy, hold on ! my dear, 

I fear you quite forget 

Those apples are for apple pie, 

Mamma is waiting, too, 

To use them, and she’s wondering now 
What has become of you. 

You’d better hop from off that fence 
And scamper home full fast, 

And that’s the only way, my boy, 

To make those apples last. 





ON THE FENCE. 


105 



So she pauses to think, 

“ Shall I take this side, 
Where the grass is green 
And the fields are wide? 


Or keep to the road 
Which lies just below ? 
If I knew which is best 
I’d take it, you know.” 


Oh, poor little squirrel, 

It’s only too true, 

There are plenty of yeople 
Half puzzled like you, 


Not knowing which side 
They will take, and hence 
They calmly remain 

Like you — “on the fence .” 


“ This way or that,” 

Thinks the squirrel, one day, 
“ I wish I knew which 

Is the pleasantest way!” 


A MESSAGE FOR GRANDPA. 


Little Ned a message takes 
To grandpapa to-day. 
u Open it, do, grandpa, read 
What my mamma does say. 

** ’Cause I guess I almost know 
You’re to come to tea. 

I heard mamma 
Say to papa 

She’d send a note by me. 

44 So Rover came to take good care 
Of me along the way, 

And here’s the note ; please grandpa set 
What mamma has to say.” 







“GROSS PATCH!” 


Cross Patch, cross Patch, 
What’s the matter now? 
Why that wail of fretfulness, 
And scowl upon your brow ? 


Milk upset and wasted ! 

Water in your plate, 

No one’s sorry, old cross Patch, 
For your wretched fate. 


You began the morning 
With a frown, my lad, 

And every word that you have said 
Has made your mother sad. 


And by your pettish temper, 

You’ve spoiled your breakfast, too, 
Cross Patch, cross Patch, 

No one pities you. 


GALLANTRY. 


Says Willie to Jennie, 
One summer day, 

“ Allow me to pluck you 
A field nosegay.” 


Says Jennie to Willie, 

“ Accept from me 
My thanks for your kindness 
And gallantry.” 


So he gave her a buttercup 
Yellow and bright. 

She said she liked better 
A daisy so white. 


Said Willie, “ I offered you this, you see 
“’Cause you are — ‘ a daisy ’ 


PLAYMRTES 


Yourself,” said he. 





% 

THE TIRED DOGGIE. 


Poor tired doggie, lying down 
To take a minute’s rest? no, no, 

For here comes Master Sammy Jones, 
To wake you up with one big blow 
From out his trumpet all so new, 

And nothing any one can do, 

Will make that tiresomest of boys 
Stop making that provoking noise. 


io8 


AFTER A BIRD. 


’Twas the story told by the neighbor’s dog, 
The funniest ever heard. 

Said he, “ The bird was after a worm , 

And the cat was after the bird. 


And I was after the cat, you know, 
And Neddie was after me. 

Oh, dear, bow-wow, bow-wow-wow-wow ! 
’Twas the funniest sight to see ! 



The worm crawled into its little hole, 
The bird flew over the hill, 

The cat turned round 
With a sudden bound, 

And hissed at me with a will. 


And I was just in the midst of a bark, 
When Neddie, my master, came, 

And took me home, and that was the way 
The rest of us — missed our game. 


LEADING THE HORSE TO WATER. 


“You can lead the horse to water, 

But you can not make him drink.” 
That’s a saying, Master Johnny, 
Old as the hills, I think. 


Strange that a horse so docile 
As yours appears to be, 

Who follows where you lead him 
So well and quietly, 



Should yet prove so unyielding, 
And refuse to bow his head, 
When in kindness and compassion 
To the water he is led. 


Well, he’s like some stubborn people, 
Who don’t know how to take 
Advantages that friendship 
May offer for their sake. 

And that is how the saying 
Came into vogue, I think, 

** You can lead a horse to water, 

But you can not make him drink.” 


n 


tf 





IO£ 


THE LITTLE MATES. 





“ I’ll get your bonny boat, my 
dears, 

And bring her back to you, 
And if you are her cap- 
tains, I 

Would like to be her crew." 

“ Oh, no," says lisping Effie, 
“ she 

Belongs to brother Joe. 
He is her captain, Bess 
and I 

Are little mates , you know." 

“When Joe comes back and 
finds her gone, 

How sorry he will be. 
We’ll thank you, sir, when you 
have brought 

Our ship safe home from 



no 



IN THE WOODS. 


In the woods, but not, you see, 

In the fragrant summer time, 

When the groves ring glad and free 
With the happy song-birds’ chime. 
No, but in the autumn sere, 

When the leaves lie all around, 
Fallen from the trees, my dear, 
Carpeting the chilly ground. 


Sue and Teddy like to go 
Picking up the cones, you know. 
Pretty little frames they make, 
Which they mean one day to take 
To the village store to sell, 

For the children know full well 
How to help mamma each day, 
Combining useful work with play. 



LITTLE BUNNIES. 

“ Awful cunning, aren’t they, grandpa ? 
How they wag their ears ! and see ! 
They’re so very tame and gentle 
They are not afraid of me.” 

“ May be not,” says grandpa, laughing, 
“May be not, but / am, Joe, 

Lest you come too near, and stumble 
’Gainst old grandpa’s gouty toe. 

“ Then I guess you'd hear some squealing 
Not from bunnies, but from me ; 

Stand a little back, my laddie, 

Then your treasures I will see.” 


A SMALL " MAID-0 F-ALL-WORK. 



This is the girl who likes to wash 

Her dolly’s clothes in the tub, you know, 
To-day she’s happier far than then, 

For mother has given consent, and so 

Our little maid is making a pie, 

“ To s’prise papa when he comes to tea,” 
And Bridget promised to help her, and 
An excellent pie it’s sure to be. 


o 


This is the very same little girl 

Who washed the clothes and made the pie. 
To-day she’s down in the kitchen again, 

Eager, happy, and mounted high 

On Bridget’s stool, the better to reach 
And iron the apron Bridget wears. 

And Bridget says, “ Och, bless the child ! 

If she scorches that same, sure, no one cares. 
It’s happy the darlint is, you see, 

Whenever she’s down here helping me ! ” 



“GO ’WAY! 


" Go ’way, you naughty Billy goat ! 
Go 'way, go 'way, go 'way ! 

I do not want a thing like you 
To come with me and play ! 


“ Your horns are sharp, your eyes are fierce. 
You are too much for me, 

I’d rather you would come some time 
When — I’ve grown big, you see.” 


But Billy marches right along, 

Says he, “ Stop screeching, do. 
I’ve more important work on hand 
Than heeding such as you.” 


A PAIR OF US. 

“ Oh, here we are,” the birdie sings, 
“ And we’re a happy pair.” 

And merrily his song rings out 
Upon the summer air. 

“ My wife and I are on the way 
Our wedding trip to take to-day. 

When we return come one and all 
Dear neighbors, and give us a call. 

A happy pair we’ll always be, 

Because in love we’ll both agree.” 




AN IMPROMPTU ENTERTAINMENT. 



Out under the trees they went together, 
All in the shine of summer weather, 

Bound for an hour of real good fun, 

With plenty to do till the hour was done. 


So up jumped Ned, and the others knew well 
He was making ready a story to tell. 

First it was doleful, and then it was glad, 
Sometimes they laughed, sometimes were sad. 

But a very good story it proved to be, 

That Ned was telling under the tree. 

And before they guessed it the hour was done. 
And they said good-by to the story and fun. 





SUCH A 


PROPER” LITTLE MISS. 


Such a “proper” little miss! 

Not a bit like little sis, 

Oh, dear, no ! 

She never cared to play, 

But would rather sit all day 
Just for show, 

RosyVdieeks had little sis, 

'Neath the summer breezes’ kiss, 
But, dear me ! 


With unrumpled dress and skirt. 
Dainty shoes unharmed by dirt, 
Stiff and still, 

While one merry little maid 
In the healthful sunshine played 
At her will. 


Miss Sedate” was white and weak, 
With no color in her cheek, 

Sad to see ! 




CRUEL TOM. 


116 



He’s a naughty, cruel brother, 

As any one can see. 

To tease and frighten Annie, 

And mock her misery. 

He declares he’s only playing 
She’s a fish that he has caught, 

But I think a boy so cruel, 

Some hard lesson should be taught. 

May be Tom’s papa will show him 
By a “game” that’s very plain, 

How to take a boy and — shingle , 

And “ just play youre threshing grain? 

May be Tommy will not like it 
Any better, don’t you see ? 

Than his little sister Annie 
Likes “ a nice big fish ” to be. 


THE GAME OF BALL. 

On the chair sits kitty-cat, 

Playing ball with Joe; 

Josie throws it up, and puss 
Throws it down, you know. 

That’s the way they like to play, 

Sometimes on a rainy day, 

Baby Joe, so sweet and fat, 

And gentle little kitty-cat. 




HOUSE BUILDING. 


Charley is the workman, 

The “Boss” is Ted, you see. 
Now hurry, Charley, hurry, 

And build my house for me!” 


So Charles “’tends to the business,” 
And works so well and fast, 

That Teddy’s house is finished 
Ere yet an hour is past. 


But what a fatal error ! 

The foundations are so slight 
I’m afraid the house will tumble. 
Then what a sorry sight ! 


Here’s a bit of moral, 

Let us, as we older grow, 

Build our characters so strongly 
They will last for aye, you know. 






n8 



Does any one know a little girl 

Who went to bed one Christmas eve, 
Determined not to go to sleep, 
Because she really did believe 

That she could see old Santa Claus, 
When just at twelve he’d come along, 
Bearing a pack of wondrous size 
Upon his good old back so strong? 


But Santa won’t be here till twelve,” 

She thought, “ so I’ll lie still, and he 
Won’t know there’s some one watching him 
To know just what her toys will be.” 

Then Flossy laid her curly head 
Upon the pillow; but, you know, 

Before they think it, little girls 
Get carried off to dreamland-O ! 


Did any one know that little girl ? 

/ knew her, and I knew that she, 
When half-past eleven came was just 
As wide awake as she could be. 


And those blue, watchful eyes at once 
Fell fast asleep, nor opened when 
At twelve o’clock old Santa Claus 
Came in and hurried out again. 


A NICE FIT. 


“ A very nice fit!” of course it is, 

And there’s the little lass 
Who likes to do as sister does, 

And stand before the glass, 

That she may see from top to toe 
How the new coat will fit, 

The brand new coat that mamma made ! 
How proud she is of it ! 

And there’s the dainty little hat, 

With ribbon and with feather, 

All ready for the curly head, 

And pleasant, sunny weather. 

Then Mabel will go out to walk 
With nurse about the square, 

And every one will like to see 
The little maid so fair. 




AN “UPSET.” 

Never mind, old fellow, 

Play you are — “ a man" 

And stop that fearful howling 
As soon, dear, as you can. 

“ Upsets,” we know, are common 
To all mankind, but then 
Wise folks, instead of crying, 

Set up their plans again. 


THREE LITTLE CHICKS. 



Three little chicks went sailing, 
On a summer’s day ; 

Three little chicks went drifting 
Far from home away. 


Three little chicks grew frightened, 
Cried for help! Dear me! 
They’d rather roam the barn-yard 
Than sail away to sea. 


Three little chicks were rescued, 

And — -I have heard ’tis true, 

Those chicks will run like lightning 
When any one cries — “Shoo/" (Shoe.) 



GATHERING WILD FLOWERS. 

Lou and Carrie and Lorina, 

( She's a dolly, have you seen her?) 
To the field went out one day 
To pick flowers sweet and gay. 

Lou and Carrie did the work, 

Miss Lorina did but shirk 
All the labor, never smiling, 

The weary work beguiling. 


But her playmates they were willing, 
And they worked so well and fast 
That they crowned their lazy dolly, 
And made her “ queen ” at last. 


“JUST WAIT TILL I’M A MAN!” 


Just wait till I'm a man, mamma! 

Just wait till I'm a man, papa! 

I tell you what, ’twill make folks smile 
To see how I’ll come out in style. 

I’ll grow so hearty, big and fat 
My head will fit most any hat, 

And I can use a cane so high 
’Twill reach almost to the blue sky. 
Just wait till I'm a man, mamma ! 

Just look out well for style, papa ! 



122 




“ CUCKOO ! 



AR up in the top of a pretty clock, 

There lives a little cuckoo, 

And he likes to peep from his cosy home, 
To tell the hours to you. 


He flaps his wings 
And he gaily sings 
As the hours of day go by, 
“ Oh, listen to me, 

My friends, and see 
How fast the moments fly. 


“ Cuckoo-cuckoo, 

'Tis very true, 

How fast the moments fly; 

It seems absurd 
That though I’m a bird,, 
’Tis the moments that fly, not /." 



THE RAIN. 


i 




Oh, dear me ! how fast it rains 
No, baby, don’t go out, 

The rain will wet you, and the wind 
Will blow you all about. 

Just wait till in a little while 
The clouds shall melt away, 

And the glad sun come dancing out 
To call my pet to play. 



Good-by, my pet, good-by ! I know 
That you must long to fly 
All free, at last, from prison bars, 
And upward to the sky. 


But don’t forget I cured your wing, 
And made you well again, 

When you were wounded by old puss, 
And made to suffer pain. 

And don’t forget me, pretty bird, 

’Tis love for you, you know, 

That prompts me now to ope the door, 
And let my sweet dove go. 


BY, BABY, BY. 

Safe on mother’s loving breast, 
Sinks the little child to rest. 

All contented there to lie, 

And hear the low “ By, baby, by ! 
Sung by mother’s lips alone, 

In mother’s ever tender tone, 

And meant for only baby’s ear, 

“ By, baby, by-o, baby dear.” 


124 


BLOWING BUBBLES. 

Little Nannette sits all alone, 

Blowing her fairy bubbles, 

"A bowl of soap and a new clay pipe” 
Are a cure for all her troubles. 

She’s only one wish, and you couldn’t guess 
What that can be, if you try ; 

She would like inside of the bubble to be, 
And soar way up to the sky. 



“WHY DON’T YOU COME OUT? 



“ Grunt, grunt,” says the pig, 

As she looks at her cousins, 
Shut up in the pen 
By the tens and the dozens. 


“ Why don’t you come out, 

And be happy like me?” 

“ Your question is silly,” 

Squealed they, “ quee, quee ! ” 

“ Well, then,” says the pig, 

“If you cant come out, 

Pray what in the world 

Are you grunting about ? 

“If a thing can’t be helped, 
Make the best of it, do, 
That’s my parting advice, 
Dearest cousins, to you." 


12 $ 


“1 WANT TO PLAY, TOO." 


Little Lucy at the door, 

Has knocked so timidly, 

“ I want to have a good time, too, 
May I come in?” asks she. 

“ My dress is poor, and yes, I know 
My feet are bare, but I 
Can laugh and play like others, when 
I get a chance to try.” 

“ Poor little girl ! ” the others say, 

“She ought to have her share of play. 
Let’s stay out on the grass and run, 
And give the little girl some fun. 

And surely we shall happier be 
For helping her be glad, you see?” 




126 



TEDDY. 


Just a midget, sweet and fair, 

Is the "household king.” His hair 
Full of golden sunshine lies, 

Just above the sunny eyes. 


Rosy cheeks, and lips so sweet; 
Dimples in his hands and feet; 
All our comfort, all our joy, 
Lives and smiles in Teddy-boy. 


Full of mischief ? Well, yes, may be, 
Else he would not be a baby. 

But — when he’s asleep , dear me, 
What baby could more quiet be ? 






127 



44 See ! see ! the donkeys run ! ” 

Laughs old long-eared Ned. 

44 Gracious me ! just see them go ! 
And not one word I've said ! 

44 I wonder who’s the donkey now ? 
Ha! ha!” But on they go, 

The timid children, cats and dogs, 
All 44 scared to death,” you know. 


And Neddie quietly comes in 
To stand and gaze around, 

Then opens his big mouth, and lo ! 

A most expressive sound 

Betrays his relish of a joke. 

Where are his comrades now ? 
Gone ; vanished like a dream ; ah, yes. 
And Ned can tell you — how 


POOR DOGGIE! 


44 Poor doggie ! does it hurt him ? 
Papa, be gentle, do ; 

Just see how very sadly 
Poor Rover looks at you. 

Oh, dear ! his leg is broken, 

And he’ll never jump again. 
Oh, doggie ! I am sorry 
To see you suffer pain!” 


And Rover hears his mistress, 
The ‘little voice so dear, 

For all his ^sufferings, helps him 
Have courage and good cheer. 
Papa is very gentle, 

And, by and by, I’m sure, 

The bandage and the resting 
Will make a perfect cure. 


^28 



THE BOLD SOLDIER BOY. 




I’m a bold soldier boy, don’t you 
see that I scare 

The coward old lamb who is 
scampering there ? 
With my sword and my gun 
I have such jolly fun, 

And I frighten the natives away- 
way-way, 

As I frighten the natives away. 


I’m a bold soldier boy, yes, a brave soldier boy, 
And there’s nothing will give an old soldier such 
joy 

As to fight a poor lamb with a sword and a gun, 
And over the meadow to make the lamb run. 


POLLY AND DOLLY. 



Polly and Dolly are quiet as mice, 

Sitting in state, and dressed up so nice. 
Mamma has some friends in the parlor, and S5 
Polly and Dolly must keep still, you know. 
But — here, I will tell you a secret, don’t tell. 
I’m sorry for Polly, because I know well 
She’d rather by far go with Dolly and play, 
Than to see mamma’s friends, and 
have nothing to say. 

But the company says, “ What a 
sweet, quiet child ! 

Dear me, is she always so quiet and 
mild ? ” 

While Polly thinks, “ Guess if you 
knew me you’d see 
What a regular Tom-boy mamma has 
in me ! ” 


129 



SETTING A SNARE. 


Oh, cruel Freddie, setting snares 
In the meadow fair and green ! 
What little bird would e’er suspect 
A trick so cruel and so mean ? 


All cloudless is the azure sky, 

And bright the gladsome summer day, 
And fragrant are the breezes light 
Which o’er the daisies skim and play. 


All things suggest the sweetest peace, 
Why “mar the perfect tender scene, 
Oh, cruel Freddie? Come, forbear! 
And play a game less sly and mean. 


HARRY’S BAG. 

Harry has a wondrous bag, 

In which he keeps his treasure, 
And the contents, I am sure, 
Guessing could not measure. 

Books and boxes, candies, nuts, 
Knives, and tops, and string, 
Pencils, rubber, and a host 
Of trash bewildering. 

All within his bag must go, 

And no one meddles there, oh , no! 





130 



LAZY WILLIE. 

Oh, Willie is a lazy boy, 

A “Sleepy Head” is he. 

“Wake up,” his little sister cries, 

“ Wake up and talk to me.” 

The birds are singing in the trees, 
The sun is shining brio-ht. 

But sleepy Willie slumbers on 
As though it yet were night. 

Oh, lazy boys will never grow 
To clever manhood, you must know. 
So lift your eyelids, sleepy head, 
Wake up, and scramble out of bed. 






'MY MEDICINE BOTTLE. 


“Yes, this is my medicine bottle, 

Mamma sent me up stairs to find. 

It’s all very well for my mother, 

But / think it’s really unkind 

“To make vie take stuff that is bitter, 
And horrid to swallow, dear me ! 

If / were a little girl’s mother, 

What a different mother I’d be. 

“ My child should have nothing but sugar, 
And candy, and things that are sweet ; 

And I never would tell her she couldn’t 
Have just all she wanted to eat.” 

Ah, Jennie, ’tis fortunate, truly, 

That you’re but a dear little girl, 

With eyes like the bluest of violets. 

And soft golden hair all a-curl. 


And that mother is wise in her training 
And ’spite of your tears and your frown, 
When your cough is so bad and you need it, 
Makes you swallow your medicine down. 


A PICNIC. 



And the ants they were so civil, 

“ Come and dine with us,” said they. 
And the ducks so hungry growing, 
Made not the least delay. 



Mrs. Duck and her three children. 

On a pleasant summer day, 

Thought they’d have a little picnic. 
Just to pass the time away. 

But they quite forgot their luncheon. 
And were hungry as could be, 

Till they met some sand ants dining 
On the sand bank, merrily. 

But accepted with great pleasure. 
And all enjoyed the fete 
Except — the kindly sand ants, 
Which the ducks all quickly ate. 


132 


TOWSER’S LITTLE DOG. 



That now he’s bigger far than Grey, 
But gentle, good and mild, 

And doesn’t spurn his master, though 
He knows “he’s but a child.” 


And little Fido was a gift 
From Uncle Ned to Grey, 

And the two doggies better friends 
Are growing every day. 


And Towser has full charge, you see, 
Of Fido — that’s the rule — 

When Grey, the little master, goes 
With nurse each day to school. 


Knows that he must watchful be, 
And treat his small dog tenderly, 
Or else the small dog’s master, Grey, 
Will have a word or two to say. 


Grey is a little boy in kilts, 

And Towser, you must know, 
Was given to Grey when but a pup. 
And so fast did he grow, 


Towser’s little doggie ! 

Oh, but he’s a beauty ! 
And faithful mastiff, Towser, 
Knows full well his duty. 


TWO FOOLISH CHILDREN. 

Foolish ? well, I think so ! 

What else may it be ? 

Two youngsters getting in a tub 
And playing “go to sea.” 

The “sea” is but a duck-pond, 
But all the same, I know 
In just another moment, watch ! 
Both overboard will go. 

Then won’t they get a ducking-! 

And won’t it serve them right, 
If mother puts them both to bed 
Long, long before *tis night ? 





OFF FOR THE COUNTRY. 

Pussie, I wish I could take you, 

But they won’t take kitties , you know, 

In the house in the country — the big hotel. 
Where mamma and I must go. 

You must run away from me, pussie, 

I’m busy with packing, you see, 

But I’ll miss you awfully , kittie, my dear, 
And I wish you were going with me. 



t34 



Having a frolic on the lawn, 
Prince and Lion, see ! 
Doggies, like the children, love 
To frolic merrily. 


But do they ever quarrel ? Ah, 
Like children, too, I fear 
These doggies are not always 
As the picture shows them here; 



HER LITTLE SISTER. 

Polly stands before the glass 
(A much astonished little lass), 

And sees another baby there, 

With soft blue eyes and golden hair. 
She lifts her chubby hand, and lo ! 

The other baby does just so ; 

And smiles when Polly smiles, you see. 
And Polly, frowning, so does she. 

But strangest thing in Polly’s eyes, 

And that which causes great surprise. 
Is that the two papas are so 
Exactly like each other. Oh ! 

It’s very puzzling to Polly, 

But papa laughs and thinks it “ jolly ” f 
And tells his puzzled little lass, 

It is her “ sister ” in the glass. 



“WE THREE.” 

“We three,” says the parrot, “oh ho! oh ho! 
What fun we are having, you know, you know.” 
But Phil doesn’t think so, 

Or why does he wink so, 

To keep back the tears that would flow, flow, flow ? 

“We three,” says the parrot, “ah ha, ah ha! 

What fun we are having, tra-la, tra-la ! ” 

But Rover can’t think so, 

Or why does he slink so, 

And run from his master afar-far-far ? 

Oh, Rover stood up on his tall hind legs, 

To steal from the Polly her bone, 

And Phil, running in, pulled the doggie away. 

And cried, “You let Polly alone!” 

And Rover jumped backward, and over went Phil, 
And Polly looked down on the terrible “ spill,” 

And chuckled to think she washout of the muss, 
Though she did lose her bone in the general fuss. 




PROMOTED. 

Home from school one day she came, 

My little daughter Bess, 

“ Mamma, mamma, I’ve get such news, 
You’d never, never guess! 

“ I’ve been promoted, and I’m way 
In ‘ Long Division,’ too, 

And teacher gave me flowers, mamma. 

I’ve brought them home to you.” 

Oh, merry little lassie ! how 
I kissed the happy face ; 

And prayed that she might win through life 
Trutfis best and highest place. 



THE MEETING OF THE BIRDS. 



Times seemed hard, and winter 
winds 

Blew fierce, and keen, and 
strong, 

And birdies met to plan a way 
To help themselves along. 


And this and that they each 
proposed, 

With never-ceasing chatter, 
Till all the squirrels in the 
trees 

Were wondering, “ What’s 
the matter?” 


But by and by, when night came on, 

And colder grew the weather, 

The birdies flapped their shivering wings 
And flew away together. 


And that was just the only thing 
In which they were agreed. 

A queer convention, you will think, 
And I say, yes, indeed. 






' Why, that’s an easy thing, I’m sure, 
To answer, don’t you see ? 


And so 7 think it was the crow 
The best of matters had, 


The race, of course, could but be won And only Nep was left to sigh 
By the swift-flying bee.” And bark. “ Alas, too bad ! ” 


But lo ! a hungry crow just then 
Came slowly sailing by, 

The little insect soon she saw, 
And — “caught it on the fly.” 


Now, Harry, you read, and I will play 
With dolly quietly, 

And nobody’ll know just where to come 
And bother us, you see. 

It’s nice and snug among these trees, 

And oh, so cool in the lovely breeze, 

And I’ll listen to you as long as you please 
To sit and read to me. 


WHO HAD THE BEST OF IT?” 


Ah, there, my dear, you do mistake, 1 
As I can prove to you ; 

The little bee flew high above 
Old Neppo’s reach, ’tis true, 


IN THE HAMMOCK. 



A SURPRISING SECRET. 


Please, grandpa, let me whisper 
A secret in your ear. 

You won’t tell anybody ? 

You promise, grandpa, dear? 


But she said I mustn’t touch it. 
An’ I want you, dear grandpa. 
To ’member that I wanted 
To make it with mamma. 










Well, then, mamma is making 
A smoking cap for you, 

An’ I said to let me help her, 
'Cause / want to s’prise you too. 


An’ you’ll call it half my present, 
Won’t you, grandpa? an’ so 
Mammall jus’ be s’prised a little 
When she s’prises you , you know. 



A FINE LADY. 


Did ever you see such wondrous airs ! 

Oh, ho ! my Lady Jane ! 

Your airs will blow you quite aw*y, 

You’ll go to Vanity-land to stay, 

And ne’er come back again. 

Pray, what’s the price of your hat, my dear ? 

And what’ll you take for your gloves ? 
And how’ll you sell each pink kid shoe ? 

And your wonderful dressed-up poodle, too ? 
You’re a precious pair of loves. 

You’re all too fine for us, you know, 

With your airs and stately tread, 

From your pretty feet to your pretty dress, 
And up to your ruffled neck, oh, yes, 

And on to your feathered head. 


So go your way, my Lady Jane, 

Till you come from Vanity-land again. 


LITTLE SAMBO. 



Little Sambo sits a-reading, 

When he knows he should be weeding 
His mother’s little garden, ere the close 
of day ; 

But it is a fairy story, 

And it spreads a kind of glory 

O’er the life of little Sambo, and he 

' 

likes to stay 

In the ricketty old chair, 

Just as you see him there, 

Reading, reading, reading, till his eyes 
are dim. 

And the weeds are growing fast, 

As the moments hurry past, 

And — Sambo’s mammy’s coming with 
a stick — for him. 


“A LITTLE BLOSSOM 'MONGST THE LEAVES.” 

Just a little blossom 

’Mongst the leaves so green ! 
Daintiest little flower 
Ever to be seen. 

Breezes blowing round her, 
Sunshine all above, 

Watched, and always cared for, 
In a world of love. 



Just a little blossom, 

Dainty, sweet and fair, 

Eyes where tears ne’er gather, 
Soft and golden hair. 


Face with pleasure beaming, 
Heart so fond and true, 

All the children love her ! 

Don’t think it strange, do you ! 



142 





TRIPPING DOWN THE LANE. 


Tripping down the lane she comes, 
Papa’s little girlie, 

While the winds are making free 
With golden locks so curly. 
Dolly in her arms she bears, 
Happy little mother ! 

Where papa meets one, he’s sure 
There to find the other. 


All the sky is red and gold, 
Evening is advancing, 

Down to the big pasture gate 
Little maid is dancing. 

Soon papa will meet her there, 
Merry little maiden, 

And what kisses they will give, 
Kisses all love-laden. 



“ HUNTING THE SLIPPER.” 

And where do you think they found it ? 

Why, hanging there in the tree, 

The slipper papa lost long ago, 

And “ nobody lost it,” don’t you know ? 
While wondering where it could be. 

But nobody asked the baby 
For what could a baby know 
Of missing or finding? and yet, you see, 
’Twas baby who carried it out to the tree — 
The slipper lost long ago; 

And baby herself who found it, 

When she was walking one day, 

And how she laughed, as she said, “ papa, 

I hided oo s’ipper f’om oo an’ mamma, 

I hided it jus’ for p’ay ! ” 


143 



“DON’T BITE ME NEDDIE.” 


Don’t bite me, Neddie, when you take 
This apple from my hand. 

I’m most afraid to trust you, but 
I’ll let you understand, 

That if you are ungrateful, sir, 

And rudely grab for more, 

Not one more apple will you get 
From all my tempting store. 

That’s what my mother says to me, 
When sometimes at the table 

I think I am not satisfied, 

And take more than I’m able 


To really eat with comfort, and 
I’m pretty sure that you, 

If I don’t teach you manners, sir, 

Will do the same thing, too. 

For, Neddie, if the truth were known, 
You are not half the donkey 

Your long ears make you look to be, 
No more than I'm a — “monkey" 

As people often say I am, 

When I am up to fun. 

There, Neddie, you have eaten all 
My apples, one by one. 







When the cows come home at night, 
With milk for baby’s early tea, 

He runs to meet them in the lane, 

And what a hungry baby he. 

’Tis “ Here, Boss, 

There, Boss, 

Get along, I say ! 

Come, Whiteface, and old Crumple-horn, 
Don’t loiter by the way. 

Hurry, Star, 

Scurry, Star, 

Through the grassy lane, 

Quick, Moolly, and old Spotted-tail, 

’Tis surely very plain 

That baby’s growing hungry for 

His bread and milk so nice and white, 
And after he has had his tea, 

He’ll sweetly sleep till morning light. 


I4S 


Whom You Looking Down On?” 



I'm but a dog, but then, you see, 

There’s something that’s sensible, sir, in me. 
You're only a creature that stands all day 
Meditating your life away. 

So you needn’t attempt 
to put on airs, 

For you’d only get 
laughed at, and no one 
cares. 


Whom you looking down on, pray, 
Oh, Mr. Stork, so grand and tall? 
Now, I would have you kindly know 
I’m not afraid of you at all. 

Your legs are only sticks, and you 
Aren’t smart enough to stand on two , 

I’ve half a mind to bite them through, 

Then pride would have a fall. 




146 



A KIND LITTLE MASTER. 

A kind little master is Jamie-boy, 

To carry poor pussie, for she 
Has hurt her foot sadly, and doesn’t like cold, 
And the snow is so deep, you see. 

She longs to be warm by the kitchen fire, 
While Jamie delights in the snow, 

So poor little kitty shall soon be content. 

And back to his fun Jamie’ll go. 





OUR BABY. 

What do you see when you sleep, baby ? Whom do you talk with then, baby ? 


What do you see when you sleep ? 
That you sweetly smile, 

And dimple the while, 

A watch at your cradle we keep, baby, 
A watch at your cradle we keep? 


Whom do you talk with then ? 
With whom do you go 
To the world of “ By-low,” 
Over and over again, baby ! 

Over and over again ? 


147 






The secret is all your own, baby, 

The secret is all your own. 

But whatever you do, 

It is happily true, 

You are always our baby alone, darling, 
You are always our baby alone. 




• ' • tv 

' MU? 



No indeed! of course not, 

Would you, my little boy, 

If sisters and if brothers 
Should find their daily joy 
In teasing you? and scaring 
Your very life away? 

And laugh when you were crying, 
And — didn’t like such play? 


Well, then, remember pussie 
Can feel, and suffer too, 

And hates to be maltreated 
As truly as would you. 

And just because you’re stronger , 
The kinder you should be 
To weaker ones about you, 

Take this advice from me. 


THE CLIFF HOUSE. 



There’s a house on the cliff, overlooking the sea, 
Oh, that is the spot where we’re long- 
ing to be, 

The children and I, 

As the days go by, 

And the sweet summer breezes are fra- 
grant and free, 


’’Tis there the wild waves sing their 
own merry song, 

And send their white spray the bold 
holders among, 

With a clash and a flash, 

High upward they dash, 

Till high on the cliff the bright sea 


foam is flung. 


Oh, the house on the cliff, the old house that we love ! 
With the ocean below, and the blue skies above ! 

Soon the children will go there to frolic away 
The hours of many a glad summer’s day. 








149 



Snowballing is fun,” so Harry thinks, 
When he does all the pelting, 

And sees the snow so white and cold, 
Down Johnny's neck fast melting. 


But ’tisn’t just such jolly sport 
When Johnny comes, oh, no ! 
And, tripping Harry on his back, 
Rubs well his face with snow. 


SNOWBALLING. 


\ 


*50 



No, indeed! though fast it pour 
From leaden skies above, 

The big umbrella, as you see, 

Quite large enough for two will be, 

And dearly do they love — 

These two — to hear the rain drops fall, 
And patter overhead : 


For not a drop can fall on us ! ” 
Laughs gleeful little Fred. 

And Mamie cuddles close beside 
Her manly little brother, 

And says, “ I ain’t afraid, you see, 
’Cause I’ve got Fred, and Fred’s got me. 
And we’ve both got each other.” 


ft 


*51 



A “BIG FIND.” 


Yes, indeed! a “right big find,” 

As the children say, 

And that is what our birdies four 
Have come across to-day. 


Only think ! a sheaf of wheat ! 

No other birds around, 

And not a cat . or cruel boy 
To drive them off the ground ! 


The mother bird, the father bird, 
The little birds, and all, 

Are going to have a jolly feast 
From off that wheat-sheaf tall. 



A LITTLE TRAMP. 


Out amongst the grasses sweet. 
Wanders little Marguerite. 

Just a little “tramp” is she. 
Bubbling o’er with roguish glee. 
Now she’s found the babbling brook, 

Listen ! “ Marguerite, come and look 
At my ripples as they flow, 

Good for tired feet, you know. 

Little girl, jump in and play 
With me on this summer’s day.” 

“No, no, no!” laughs Marguerite, 

Dancing off on tireless feet, 

“ I’ve but time for ' how d’ye do,’ 

Then I’m off for pleasures new.” 


*53 



“OH, THAT MOUSE!” 


Such a daring little thief ! 

But then what can he do ? 

He’s fond of cake, and there’s no way 
That he can get it, day by day, 

Except by creeping through 
That tiny hole within the wall 
And making a small raid 
Upon the closet shelf, you see, 

To study out, all silently, 

How that nice cake is made. 


Now if you were a little mouse, 

I’m sure you’d do the same. 

But oh, I know a two-legged mouse , 
And — Bertie is his name. 


He thinks it fun to creep within 
The closet door, to find 
The jam, or cookies, and such things 
As suit his taste and mind. 


And Betty often cries, “ Dear me ! 
A queer, two-legged mouse I see ! 



“MY UTTTE GIRL.” 

Child — 

“ She’s only a pussie dressed up, you see. 

But she makes a nice little girl for me, 
And I like to trot her upon my knee.” 

Pussie — 

“ Oh, yes, no doubt I’m a nice * little girl/ 
But my kittenish head is all in a whirl. 

I’m trotted to death from kindness, I know, 
But on my own trotters I’d far rather go. 
If my mistress but knew it, I’d like it best 
To be only her pussie in soft fur dressed.” 






'll' 

Mf 


SUMMER AND WINTER. 


Summer or winter ? which to choose 
Ah, that is hard to do, 

For where s the boy who summer loves. 
Does not love winter, too ? 


The summer-picnics in the woods ! 

Oh, what could nicer be ! 

And winter-coasts adown the hill. 


W hen cheers ring out so free ! 


Oh, give us both, each in its time, 

The song of birds, the sleigh-bells’ chime! 
Come summer’s or come winter’s weather, 




We love them well — and both together. 








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Poor little Nannie, all day long, 
Wandering here and there ! 

Asking with timid eyes and tongue, 

“ Please, have you a penny to spare ? 

No mother, no father! alas, how sad! 

Hungry and. cold, poor child ! 
Always roaming on little bare feet, 
Though cold the weather, or mild. 








Johnny is kind to the beggar girl, 

He is giving her money now, 

And her heart is warm with its. gratitude. 
And a smile has brightened her brow. 

Johnny’s own heart is happier too, 

For every one knows ’tis a fact 
That nothing will make us half as glad 
As when we do a kind act. 






HOW THEY MADE UP. 


*56 



Two naughty little people 
Had a quarrel one sad day. 
Each said that with the other, 
She never more would play. 

And so upon each other 

Their little backs they turned. 
And all the old-time fondness 
Alas ! they coldly spurned. 

But oh ! their hearts grew weary. 
The anger died away, 

Each hoped that soon the other 
Would have a word to say. 

Each waited, oh ! how sadly ! 

Each moved a little near, 

And each “ around the corner" 
Began, at last, to peer. 


Then Nellie held her dolly 
To Annie with a smile : 

“ You may have it if you want to, 
And play with it awhile.” 


Then Annie quickly followed 
The rule she knew was right : 
I’ve got an apple, Nellie, 

I’ll give you a big bite." 

And somehow the wee faces 
Met fair and square at last, 
And kisses sweet and loving 
Sent the quarrel flying fast. 


157 



FOUR PLAYMATES. 


Four little playmates, dont you see ? 
Happy as playmates well can be. 

But two are black, and two are white, 
Look at the picture, you’ll see I’m right. 
One white kitty with legs full four , 


The other white kitty with two — no more. 
The mother cat, and the jet black kitty, 

Oh, wouldn’t it be a dreadful pity 
If four little playmates didn’t agree? 
’Twould spoil their pleasure at once you see. 


WATCHING. 



Pussy on the garden wall, 
Watches long and well; 

She has a secret, don’t you know. 
Which she will never tell. 


A robin’s nest lies just below, 

In bushes green and thick, 

And pussy had her mind made up 
To give a jump so quick 


And grab a meal of birdies there. 
But — oh, dear me! she doesn’t 
dare, 

ForTowser, honest dog is near, 
And jumping will cost pussy dear. 




‘58 



RIDING PIG-A-BACK. 


Riding, riding pig-a-back, Piggie seems to think it fun, 

Look at merry, laughing Jack! And knows that when the ride is done 

He’ll have from master Jack a treat, 

By way of something good to eat. 


SUPPER TIME. 

“ Chick, chick, chick ! 

Come, hurry, hurry quick ! 

Here’s meal so nice, 

Come in a trice, 

For supper time is here!” 

Cheep, cheep, cheep, 

We’re coming in a heap. 

How nice and sweet 
Is meal to eat ! 

We thank you, mistress dear. 







a 

Ml 



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